If I had paid to see this performance in the theater I would've thought my money well-spent. As a recorded document, I feel the same way. No one does anything particularly subtle here, but this is a very solid, sometimes exciting performance of Aida. Galvany sings with incredible passion, some of which may be more suitable to verismo, but I love it. Rather she go a little over the top than sink into bland professionalism. Her and Stapp's use of their chest registers in typical of that time and very different from today's careful, "tasteful" singing. The top C in "O patria mia" is sung pianissimo before crescendoing into a forte that caps the phrase very well. I should also tell you that, for whatever reason, she does NOT sing an E-flat at the end of the second act here. For that get the other Aida from Mexico that Opera Depot has available.Stapp is a marvelous Amneris, secure vocally from top to bottom, raging like a lioness. She displays a security with the style and music that most singers today can't even begin to match. I hope Andy will release more of her pirates -talk about underrated!Despite what Andy writes above, Bondino was indeed a native Italian and he sings well, with an easy, flowing Italianate tone - not earthshattering perhaps, but so much better than what we hear in this repertoire today. Opthof is a great Amonasro, Tessenyi a dour Ramfis with an impressive bass. Barbini leads a strong performance. Good, listenable sound too.Those were the days.