Good performances of the three operas, with surprisingly idiomatic, atmospheric conducting by Pritchard (I associate him more with Mozart and the Romantics). Standouts in the vocal department are Gobbi in both assignments (but particularly as Schicchi) and Sylvia Fisher as the Zia Principessa, who for once sounds like an actual human being with feelings of her own.

I heard about these performances and saw several of the singer in the early 1970s. I went to the production around that time as well but Suor Angelica was omitted. Really glad to hear this performance with all the atmosphere of a live performance in foggy London Town with the fruit and vegetable market all around. Thank you.

The other reviews of this release have been very positive. The Tabarro is a harrowing experience with both Collier and Craig smoldering as the lovers, Gobbi heartbreaking and a bit frightening as Michele. Suor Angelica has not only Yvonne Minton, but a very young Margaret Price. Joan Carlyle was a fine soprano, but one wouldn't normally associate her with this repertoire. And yet she gives a gripping performance that easily moves the listener to tears. Her scream when she finds out her child is dead is wrenching. Sylvia Fischer makes much of her brief role as Angelica's righteous aunt. Gianni Schicchi benefits from Edith Coates dragon-like Zita: she is not only obnoxious, but funny and the audience clearly loves her antics. Elizabeth Vaughn sings a lovely "O mio babbino caro" and then soars to the optional top D-flat in her final duet with Rinuccio. Rinuccio himself is sung very well by John Wakefield. Gobbi gives lesson after lesson in word-painting and the use of timing in a comic role. The entire ensemble sounds like they're thoroughly enjoying themselves.John Pritchard conducts ably, if a bit slowly at times. He keeps each opera moving and, mercifully, doesn't take the traditional cut in Suor Angelica where she assists another nun who has been attacked by wasps. Except for a few bumps and thumps along the way, the sound is excellent mono. If you love Puccini and/or Il Trittico, you must get this!

Very happy with this ourchase and the performance. I taped it in 1965 but lost the tape and I am delighted the performance has been preserved. The quality of recording is excellent. The performance itself is a memorable for Tito Gobbi, a fine singing actor. The cast are all British singers and stalwarts of the London Opera scene of fifty years ago. Delighted with everything.

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