The 23 year-old Caballe is so good in this performance one can understand why she became a star eight years later. All the best qualities of her singing are already present: the shining tone, the unearthly piannissimos, the solid top. Also already present is her habit of leaving out the words when they get in the way of the musical line, but that's a minor point. If the soprano had left us nothing but this, she would still have been considered a legend in her own time. Fortunately, her career was long and varied and she was able to leave an incredible legacy of vocal art.Another thing about this performance is that Caballe isn't the only good singer in the cast. Perhaps they didn't become as famous as she did, but I think we all would have been happy to experience these singers in this opera. Welitsch (no relation to Ljuba Welitsch) is a fiery, memorable Jokanaan (he was married to another famous Salome, Inge Borkh) and Zbyslaw Wozniak is a superb Herod. Sabine Zimmer sings Herodias better than some of more more renowned colleagues. Narraboth and the Page are also taken by excellent singers. Varviso conducts the score with strength and solid leadership. The sound is more than adequate. As Andy writes above most of the Dance of the Seven Veils is missing, but if I had to choose between that and a portion of the vocal music missing I'd take the former.All Caballe and Salome fans should get this!

Very beauutifull performance. It is amazing to hear my beloved Diva Montserrat Caballé singing at 23 years old with such great art. She was yet a Diva. But crowned in 1965.Fantastic.

Montserrat Caballé is the only interpreter I have seen who obeyed Strauss' directive to emulate the demure femininity he associated with the women of the East. Also, while many have wrecked their voices on the part, Caballé was able to keep singing it throughout the duration of her (very long) career. She definitely knew what she was doing.

I already love her in Strauss and Salome, so this should be so much fun!