The Opera Gods were in attendance the night this performance took place; Mozart's masterpiece has rarely been so well-served. Each cast member is terrific. While I may choose another singer for individual roles I certainly couldn't come up with a superior group of singers singing together at the same time.Margaret Price was as well-known for her Donna Anna as Kiri Te Kanawa was known for Donna Elvira. Both are at the top of their games here. Rarely has "Mi tradi" been sung with such clarity and beauty of tone and "Non mi dir" proves a mini-masterclass in Mozartian line and how to use it to express the text. Jane Berbie's darker mezzo sound is well-suited to Zerlina's earthier character; both arias are sung with skill and seductive charm.The men are just as good. Ruggero Raimondi is a passionate Giovanni who is unapologetic for his lascivious behavior. Gabriel Bacquier is just as good here as he was at the Met under Bonynge a year or so later. Burrows sings a patrician, technically flawless Ottavio. Malcolm King's Masetto is very attractive and John McCurdy is an unflinching, relentless Commendatore. Anchoring everyone in Mozartian reality is the underrated Peter Maag. He paces the opera very well; nothing drags or sounds rushed. He encourages the use of appoggiaturas too and the performance benefits from it.This was recorded from the audience, yet the tapist not only sat still, but was close enough to the stage so that none of the voices sound recessed. The tradeoff is that comments from the audience are audible (only after arias are finished, not during) and a couple of coughers are slightly annoying (one wants to offer them a cough drop). This is one of Opera Depot's best Don Giovannis.

12 february 1977 is the correct date. The rest of the cast : Stuart Burrows, Gabriel Bacquier, Malcolm King, John Macurdy.