Sound is fine. Everyone is on in this performance. Poggi, often unreliable, almost achieves the same level as the rest of the cast. Cerquetti's performance is riveting.

This performance turned up on Ed Rosen's Legato label years ago, given to Ed by Cerquetti herself. She is magnificent, vocally of course, but also alive to all of Amelia's passion, fears, and regrets. No one - not even Callas - sings this as excitingly as Cerquetti. She was the real deal as far as Verdi sopranos are concerned. My only quibble is that she skips the cadenza at the end of "Morro", but that was a traditional omission at the time.Cerquetti isn't the only good news here though. Everyone else in the cast is at the top of their game too. Many will roll their eyes at even the mention of Gianni Poggi, but he's on fire here, singing with ringing tone and an effortless top. He and Cerquetti crown the big duet with an orgasmic top C that drives the audience wild. Frankly, I'd feel better complaining about him if we had more tenors like him today. Bastianini sings Renato to the manner born, Stignani is still effective although this is a bit late for her, and Maria Manni-Jottini is a lovely Oscar. Following tradition again, Poggi does not sing his last act aria (neither did Bjoerling at the Met or in New Orleans). Tieri is a more than competent maestro who leads his singers in a thrilling account of this wonderful score.The sound overloads a few times during loud climaxes, but we've all heard (and endured) much worse. Those who love Cerquetti or Ballo must have this recording!

Bonne performance avec Cerquetti et Bastianini au sommet. Poggi parait évidemment plus terne. Son air de l'acte 4 est coupé. Le son est très correct. Au total une représentation que l'on écoute avec beaucoup de plaisir