Same situation as the Jones Don Carlo and the Prevedi Otello.

The singers here all live up to their billing. Shuard is a great Turandot in the Eva Turner tradition. Not quite 40 yet, she has no trouble with the top notes and projects the imperious, forbidding yet vulnerable princess well. Prevedi was an excellent singer, usually taken for granted. He sings with great accuracy if without a lot if color. He manages a top C for his unison phrase with Shuard at the end of "In questa reggia", but ducks the optional one later in the scene. Kabaivanska sings Liu beautifully. Her scream when tortured in the last act is weak and stagey though. Rouleau is a first-rate Timur and the three ministers are terrific. They are allowed their full scene too without the minor cuts usually heard. In fact, the entire opera is performed without cuts including "Dal primo pianto" in the last scene. Downes leads an exciting, well-paced performance. The chorus is excellent throughout, the first sopranos being given some extra high notes in the first act chaos scene, something I've never heard before.The sound is adequate, but be aware that there is some crosstalk in the riddle scene and some strange tape fluctuation in the last act, unfortunately right at the end of "Nessun dorma". The very top of the third act is missing too. Sound glitches aside, if you like Turandot or any of these singers you'll want this.

I have two extraordinary studio recordings with Sutherland and Nilsson in the title roles, but I am very glad to add this one.

Great performance.