I'll start by saying the recording quality of this performance could be better. And worse, it's somewhat oversaturated. That said, I consider this a performance of a lifetime. It's true it's marred by oversaturation of the microphones. I don't know if this was a 'house' recording—ie, bootleg. Or just a bad recording 'engineer.' Nevertheless it is worth having for the performance. The 1960s were also the best years of Karajan's conducting too. By the way, this is rated four stars because of the poor recording quality only.

What we have here is the dress rehearsal of the production that caused so much controversy at the time. Karajan's reign at La Scala was hectic and Freni got caught in the middle of the fracas. The opening night was notorious for its catcalls and booing. None of that is heard here. We don't even hear an audience applauding until the Flora scene (Act 2, scene 2). This was recorded from the audience. The singers are audible, but are occasionally drowned out by the orchestra, especially during climactic moments. You sometimes have to take it on faith that they are singing!Freni is a lovely, vulnerable Violetta. If her "Sempre libera" isn't the most brilliant, it's certainly acceptable. The rest of her singing is truly beautiful. Cioni knows his way around Alfredo and sings very well. Sereni, with his distinctive voice, is easy to take for granted. It's not surprising that he made so many records. The rest of the cast is excellent. Karajan conducts the preludes with great detail and precision. He sometimes takes tempos that are on the slow side for no discernible reason, causing his singers to struggle a bit.If you want Freni as Violetta, she is shown to better effect in other performances. Opera Depot has one conducted by Giulini that is preferable.

Some problem for Cioni and Zaccaria, but good result at all. Karajan and Frewni conducts in a superb way. As usual, Mirella Freni at the best.

Karajan non è riuscito stranamente ad ottenere ciò che voleva da tutti, in particolare dalla Freni - con notevoli incomprensioni reciproche, e relativi non buoni risultati interpretativi - ma i preziosismi sonori non mancano e possono quasi salvare questa non felice serata.