Gilda Cruz-Romo is another example of a Pirate Queen (singers whose live recordings are highly treasured by opera nuts.) For whatever reason she got to record very little in the studio and she was always good. Tosca was one of her best roles and she shows why here. The top notes are glorious, the middle register beautiful, the low notes fully integrated into the rest of the voice. She is a fiery Tosca to boot and gives full service to all the "big" moments. Her cry of "Questa il bacio di Tosca!", for example, is shouted with frightening intensity, her hysterics at the end very convincing. Labo is a fine Cavaradossi, and Taddei, as always, a formidable Scarpia. Morelli tends to rush his singers; there are times when the ensemble gets a little messy. The voices are heard clearly over the orchestra, but the "jumping" Andy speaks of above gets very annoying. Fortunately, it doesn't affect the singers very much, but the orchestral introduction to Act Three is almost a complete loss. One is grateful to have a souvenir of such a stirring performance of this Puccini war horse while regretting it hasn't survived in better sound.My sound reservations aside, fans of the three leads should definitely get this. Labo and Taddei can be heard elsewhere in better sound, but Cruz-Romo's Tosca is terrific and a must-have, weird sound and all.