Poor Virginia was struggling. Maybe it was the first time she sang the role of Alzira. Everyone else good and even her many times as well. Not always struggling. A very nice opera that should be performed much more often.

hasn’t arrived as of yet

Alzira was Verdi's eighth opera, coming after Nabucco, I Lombardi, and Ernani among others. The plot is a kind of mix of Il Trovatore and Ballo in Maschera: the soprano agrees to marry the baritone to save the tenor's life, the tenor stabs the baritone in the last scene, the baritone magnanimously forgives everyone and dies. As Mr. Herzfeld suggests below, don't take it too seriously and you'll enjoy it even more.This performance has been around on various pirate labels for years. Zeani sings gorgeously and makes as much of the part as she can. Alzira is not as varied a character as some others, but Verdi wrote some fine music for her. Cecchele is a fine Zamoro and MacNeil demonstrates how Gusmano's music is a clear precursor of Di Luna's. Capuano cuts second verses of cabalettas, but otherwise plays the full score (it's not a long opera). There are a few interpolated high notes: MacNeil socks out a high A at the end of first act cabaletta and Zeani crowns the big sextet later in the act with a stirling high D (?). The sound is excellent with a good balance between the voices and the orchestra. There are a few fillers on disc two. Zeani sings the first part of Anna Bolena's final scene and then joins her husband, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, in the Elvira/Giorgio duet from Act One of I Puritani, and the Adina/Dulcamara duet from Act Two of L'elisir d'amore, all expertly done. All Verdians should hear this performance, if only because Alzira is so rarely performed.

Excellent performance from all singers

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Alzira. The singing was quite good and the sound was pretty decent considering this was from a 1967 live performance. There are some (including Verdi) who don't care for the opera; however, there is much to like here: lots of good melody, plenty of blood and thunder that you find in early Verdi, and a very exciting performance. Don't compare this opera to other Verdi works. Forget the plot and just enjoy the music. It's better than the masterpieces of a number of lesser composers.As a bonus there are excerpts from Anna Bolena, I Puritani, and L'elisir d'amore. I would like to know who the singers were in each of the excerpts, especially the Puritani, which was superb.

Beautiful early Verdi excitingly conducted and sung.

The discs were a gift to a friend in France who is very happy with them. I am in Australia so am unable to comment further.