I was anxious to hear this Salome in Italian. I'm sorry to say I was disappointed because of the low level of the sound. Yes, the voices are clear but it is hard to enjoy with the sound: when the volume is raised the hiss level increases. Maybe I'm being picky but I'm spoiled with the fine German Radio performances I've heard in this opera and many other operas. Everyone talks about Gobbi, and he is fine, but I really enjoyed Tasso as Herod. He is as fine as I've heard in this difficult and thankless role. Hearing him beg Salome is impressive. As to Djanel as Salome, she is interesting. She has a lighter voice than many other Salomes which is fine since Salome is supposed to be young. One does get spoiled with Nilsson, if one wants to hear incredible singing. But, Djanel is convincing in her own way. Her finale is a tour de force. Sanzogno makes this a very exciting performance if one marred by less than ideal sound. I am glad I gave it a chance even if I wanted more.

Salome - Lily DjanelHerodes - Fiorenzo TassoHerodias - Maria BenedettiJokanaan - Tito GobbiNarraboth - Angelo MercurialiPage - Maria Teresa Massa-FerreroFive Jews - Mario Carlin, Cesare Masini Sperti, Tommaso Soley, Luigi Fort, Giuliano Ferrein Two Nazarenes -. Franco Calabrese, Aldo BertocciTwo Soldiers - Dario Caselli, Giannetto ZiniA Cappodocian - Giuliano FerreinA Slave - Daniela CarpisTurin Symphony Orchestra RAINino Sanzogno

The Belgian soprano Lily Djanel had sung Salome in the original German very successfully at the Met and, I assume, in French at some point. Here she is singing the title role in Italian and is very fine. Her voice cuts through the orchestra very well and her top notes soar - not in a Rysanek way perhaps, but she keeps everything in line and never overplays. Gobbi is a lighter-voiced Jokanaan than we normally hear as are Tasso and Benedetti as the parents. The diction throughout the performance is excellent and the Italian translation quite accurately reflects the original German. Sanzogno conducts a swifter performance than most German conductors do even now. The sound is excellent though you'll need to turn up the volume as the transfer level is rather low.

Where the heck does he find these things? A recording of *Salome* in Italian, with Tito Gobbi as Iokanaan? Yes, thank you. Such a delight.

The opera sounds strange in Italian (the vowels don't always work) but the performance is very good. I'm glad to add it to my collection.

surprisingly good performance