This cast of Don Carlo is nothing short of spectacular. Placido Domingo sings with ease and beauty in the title role. Gwyneth Jones was a last minute replacement as Elisabetta (a short side note: She had been scheduled to record Elektra with Birgit Nilsson, Regina Resnik and Georg Solti but withdrew to go to Vienna to sing this performance.) Anyone who has ever found fault with her late performances needs to listen to her early singing Verdi in her prime to appreciate what a remarkable singer she was. Christa Ludwig delivers a fiery Eboli, remarkable for its dramatic bite as well as her vocal security. Nicolai Ghiaurov is no less wonderful as Filippo and receives one of the most effusive ovations I have ever heard after "Ella giammai m'amò." Hans Hotter is icing on the cake as the Grand Inquisitor.