Grace Bumbry delivers a commanding performance in the title role of La Gioconda, elevating a second-tier opera with a flawed libretto (even Arrigo Boito distanced himself from it) into a thrilling and unforgettable evening of music drama. Her fearless vocal power is matched by the natural beauty of her voice, a rare combination that gives the performance its emotional charge. Richard Tucker, well into his 60s at the time, shows no signs of slowing down, offering a performance full of youthful vitality and vocal security. A young Samuel Ramey rounds out the cast with a strong and memorable Alvise.