The cast has the kind of outsize personalities you don't often encounter now. Gencer and Jurinac are both involved, very accurate and dramatically exciting, but they could not be more different in character. And that's great. Experienced Don Siepi and very young Freni are on fine form, living up to their reputations. The British contingent works hard to keep the show moving, each of them almost of the same calibre. Solti's big scale Mozart isn't fashionable, but it works.

Here is another great cast in the Zeffirelli production at Covent Garden 1962. The three women are all excellent individually and collectively. I wish Gencer had sung more Mozart as her Anna is first-rate. Jurinac makes Elvira a major character while singing superbly and Freni is a charming Zerlina. Siepi was justly famous as Giovanni as was Evans as Leporello. Lewis sings a stalwart, masculine Ottavio. Both of his arias are warmly applauded. Ward is a frightening Commendatore and Savoie a memorable Masetto. Solti keeps things moving, but is considerate of his singers. The sound is a little muddy (though pitched correctly) and there are some recurring, brief volume drops, probably from the original radio transmission. If you love Don Giovanni or any of the singers, this is a must-have!