Elinor Ross never really got her due from the Met who treated as a sort of dramatic soprano version of Lucine Amara: always professional and capable of giving a satisfying performance, but always second or third choice. Here for the Philadelphia Grand Opera she gives a grand performance of Tosca, enjoying the roles five top Cs and filling out the more overtly dramatic moments with conviction. I love her reading of Tosca's "Quanto?" drawn out for maximum effect and then her quieter introspective account of "E avanti a lui" at the end of the second act. Ross was a class act and she shows why here.Robert Merrill was pushing 60 when he did this performance, but you'd never guess it. The audience greets him with a huge round if applause at his entrance. I wish he had restudied his role though as he is conspicuously late on quite a few lines (Ross has to feed him "Civitavecchia!" from across the stage!).Walter Rinaldi is good as Cavaradossi and the rest of the supporting cast is too. I'm sure conductor Carlo Moresco would've liked another rehearsal, but things are what they are.The voices are audible over the orchestra although it depends where they are on the stage. Ross' fans are in attendance and shout "Brava!" whenever they can.For fans of the singers then, but Tosca fans should not miss Ross' excellent portrayal of the title role.