Here is Rigoletto nicely done with good Chorus and Orchestra of Manitoba Opera, Winnipeg with a few cuts. There are some recordings with Kostas Paskalis available (also on Opera Depot), which is great. He was a very good, powerful baritone and that you can hear also on this recording. John Sandor is generous Duke with good high notes. He was a nice surprise for me since I haven't heard him before. Gail Robinson is excellent Gilda as are her Lucia and Rosina, also (available on Opera Depot, too). It is nice to hear what was possible in regional opera house in Canada back in 70's.

Gail Robinson was a lovely lyric coloratura who had a busy career at the Met, but who never attracted the attention of the record companies. Opera Depot already has her Lucia and Rosina available. This Gilda is one of the most beautiful I've heard in a long time. The "Caro nome" is effortlessly sung with silvery tone and a fine concluding trill. "Tutte le feste" is heartbreaking. There are a number of interpolated top notes (the traditional E- flat at the end of the "Si, vendetta" and a long-held high D at the end of the storm trio.) Paskalis was a famous Rigoletto by this time (1975). His pitch occasionally sags here and there, but the Greek baritone knew how to sing and sell this role. John Sandor sang with NYCO quite a bit (there's a pirate of I Puritani with him and Sills). His voice is very attractive. He also is generous with high notes, giving us a strong D-flat at the end of the "Addio" cabaletta with Robinson and then a top D at the end of "Possente amor". Michalski was a busy, sometimes underrated bass who sang with the Met a lot. He makes a strong Sparafucile. Jane O'Brien is very good as Maddalena. For once you can hear her in the storm trio.Barbieri leads an exciting performance, making only a few cuts along the way (unfortunately, the full statement of "O veglia, o donna" is one of them.) The sound is from an in-house tape, but the voices are clearly heard. Fans of the singers and of the opera itself will really enjoy this rarity!