Mario Rossi leads very nearly an uncut performance of the revised 4 Act version. He does cut a verse of Rodrigo's first aria and there is a small snippet cut from Carlo and Elisabetta's final duet, but unusually for that time (1954) the rest of the score is intact including the conclusion of the prison scene (Act 3, scene 2).None of this would matter if the performance weren't good, but it is - very good. Though very young at the time Stella sings nobly and well. Her singing would become more refined as she got older. She was criticized later on for not possessing a true pianissimo, but she exhibits something like that here. Dominguez was an exciting, risk-taking singer and her Eboli is predictably first-rate. "O don fatale" is sung with great passion though one gets the sense that Dominguez is at the edge of her considerable powers. Picchi actually makes something of Carlo and sings with ringing tone as well. Mascherini has a good voice that he uses with finesse (but don't expect any of the written trills). Siepi is superb as Filippo and together with Stefanoni contributes to a sizzling Gran Inquisitor scene. Santa Chissari sings the Voice from Heaven's music beautifully.The sound is very good, a few sudden volume drops notwithstanding. This was available as a two CD set from an Italian label for a brief while; Andy has wisely spread it over three discs with excellent sidebreaks.Recommended to all lovers of this quintessential Verdi work!