If I had heard this performance in the house I would've thought my money well spent. Hearing it as a recording is compromised by the somewhat recessed voices though once the ears adjust it isn't a big problem. Live opera collectors will have endured worse than what we get here and the pitch of the tape sounds correct. The raison d'etre of this performance is Margaret Price's Elisabetta. She sounds glorious from first note to last. Other interpreters have found more specific colors in this or that passage, but few make the sumptuous sounds she does. Mattiucci was another singer who would've been more acclaimed today since her type of dramatic Italian mezzo is so rare now. She is an excellent Eboli too. Tagliavini sings a very strong Carlo with firm, attractive tone. Brendel is a first-rate Rodrigo and Raimondi a sexy, intimidating Filippo. Since this was performed in Munich we get two great basses for the Inquisitor and the Friar. Falcon is indeed a lovely heavenly voice. Gomez-Martinez leads the four act edition with very few cuts (Eboli gets both verses of her Veil Song, Elisabetta both verses of "Non pianger", the final duet for Carlo and Elisabetta is also performed complete).For fans of the opera and the singers (especially Price!).

Don't you recognise Elisabetta's big aria "Tu che la vanità"?

Hmm, I didn't listen to the recording, but are you sure the sample is from Don Carlo?