Everything clicks in this performance of La Rondine, an opera that until the last 25 years was only rarely heard. With its bittersweet ending and romantic, tuneful score Rondine is unlike a lot of Puccini's other scores. He wanted to compose an operetta and he did - sort of. I'm glad this recording uses his preferred ending without the silly suicide imposed on it more recently by a misguided Marta Domingo.Carteri is enchanting as Magda; it's completely believable that the men are besotted by her. She makes specific choices in her phrasing and singing, allowing Puccini to make his points without imposing on them. Gismondo does not have the most melting of voices, but he phrases intelligently and with such passion without going overboard as some tenors do at the end. Sinimberghi and Rovero are charming as the secondary couple and Valdengo makes his mark as Magda's sugar daddy Rambaldo. The native Italian cast all assist with excellent diction. Bellezza knows this music intimately and assists his singers without crushing them. The sound is also very good with no glitches that I heard.Highly recommended.