This is a company performance, from an era when the Royal Opera was still, in the good old sense, a company, and its many fine qualities can be ascribed to that. (Charles Craig, at his youthful best here as Pinkerton, wasn't a company member but a house regular; Josephine Veasey, a truly outstanding Suzuki, was.) As a lover of Sena Jurinac's singing I looked forward to hearing her as Cio-Cio-San; but, while not disappointed, given the countless fine details that distinguish her performance, I nevertheless found her somehow out of place, even unidiomatic. But this is a personal response; as a whole this is a Butterfly certainly worth hearing.

One wouldn't think Sena Jurinac would be a great Butterfly but she is. Her entrance is beautiful and confident (and capped with an unexpected and soaring top D-flat). There are other Butterflies who are more specific or colorful in this or that phrase, yet Jurinac's conception of the role is a complete one. She grows from strength to strength, culminating in a final scene where the tears sound spontaneous and not "acted". And Jurinac doesn't overdo the tears either. Everything flows in a cohesive, deeply moving whole.Craig is a fine Pinkerton, joining his leading lady for a passionate account of the duet that concludes Act One. Veasey's Suzuki is simply wonderful, not only vocally, but the way she asserts herself without sounding like she's trying to take over. Jess Walters is an excellent Sharpless and Margreta Elkins actually makes something of Kate Pinkerton's few lines in the last scene. David Tree is suitably obnoxious Goro without overacting the role, Joseph Rouleau a frightening Bonze. Bryan Balkwill leads a tight. well-played performance. For whatever reason, Pinkerton is referred to as Mister Pinkerton, rather than BF Pinkerton.The sound is from a good mono broadcast of the period, pitched correctly. There are few minor and passing glitches from the original source and the last two minutes may have been spliced in from another source. But there's nothing here that should hinder enjoyment of this terrific performance.

Memorable performance, Jurinac just coming into the dramatic stage of her career.

Charles Craig was considered to be very much a singer with an Italian style in the 1950′s. His training with Dino Borgioli gave him that edge. You are correct it was not his by nature Not bad for an English man though. he was often mistaken for an Italian even in Italy! Great to hear this. His debut as a soloist at the Royal Opera House and with such a superb soprano as Jurinac.