This was a very pleasant Traviata to listen to. Ileana was on fire from beginning to end: safe in the upper tessitura, collected when needed, expressive when needed, it was beautiful to hear. The same can be said of Carreras who was in nice form though not as stellar as one should expect but beautifully sang his part and was very involved. At the end of the opera in the terzetto he was a bit out of tune (but higher not lower than the right note) but it was a moment. The baritone was fine. Yeah, perhaps this was not her night though he did a commendable work in spite of some pitch problems here and there but it felt more related to health than lack of artistry but it worked fine anyway.The sound is pretty good and the orchestra and conductor were attentive to the plot. Loved it!

Once his career began in earnest, Carreras (like most tenors) dropped Alfredo quickly. He was supposed to record the role in the studio much later on with Kiri Te Kanawa, but that didn't happen (just as well as the sweetness of his timbre had evaporated by then.) Here he sings like an angel and partners the equally yorubas very well. The two actually sound in love and the syrupy plot becomes all the more believable. Cotrubas is also in great form, sounding the hedonistic, doomed Violetta to the life. She caps her exciting "Sempre libera" with an almost orgasmic E-flat. Her death scene is simple and effective; she is more heartbreaking because she doesn't try to be dramatic; she just is. Violetta was one of her best roles and this performance shows why.Victor Braun was a fine baritone (he sang Wolfram with distinction in Solti's studio recording of Tannhauser.) He sounds like he may have been indisposed the night this was broadcast as he tends to sag below the pitch for much of the evening. The rest of the cast is excellent, sung by the likes of Gillian Knight, Richard Van Allen, Elizabeth Bainbridge, and Richard Greagor. Pritchard conducts capably, unusually giving us one verse of Germont's cabaletta, but cutting Alfredo's "O mio rimorso!" Usually it's the other way around!The sound is excellent broadcast stereo and the discs are divided responsibly. All Traviata lovers should get this as well as fans of the two leads!

Here he sings like an angel and partners the equally young Cotrubas very well.

The tiny role of Giuseppe is sung by HANDEL OWEN...not 'ANVIL' Owen. A long-serving member of RO Chorus, often taking "little" solo roles, Mr. Owen deserves his correct name. Perhaps -prompting the misnomer- he had spent too long as a gypsy in Act Two of Il Trovatore!!

One of the few records of Carreras as Alfredo