I expected this performance to be good, but not overwhelming. In the event, it's not overwhelming, but it's more than good. If I had paid to see this in the theater I would have thought my money well-spent. As it is none of these portrayals were captured in the studio so one can be grateful that someone took the time (and risk) to record this in-house. Cossutta makes an excellent Gustavo (the Swedish setting is used): lyrical, romantic, with a ringing top (no top C at the end of the duet though, he sings it the way it's written.) Orlandi-Malaspina is one of those really good Italian sopranos who were taken for granted when this performance was given. Nowadays she'd be much more celebrated as her type of voice is no longer so common. The top is beautiful and accurate, the middle expressive, the lower notes secure and well-integrated with the rest of the voice. She conveys Amelia's plight very effectively, if without a lot of individuality. Bryn-Jones is a first-rate Anckerstrom, delivering an "Eri tu" that wakes up the sleepy Covent Garden audience into some enthusiasm. Gorr is a powerful Ulrica, Harwood a delightful Oscar (I wish she had been allowed some ornamentation in "Saper voreste".) Downes leads a solid, enjoyable performance.The voices are heard very clearly over the orchestra, but so are some coughs signifying that this was probably taken from an in-house tape. My copy was afflicted with some file corruption in the last track of a too-full disc one.

Bryn-Jones was a contract member of the Royal Opera for some years, often covering for principal baritones Peter Glossop and John Shaw. I think that must have been the case with this performance as I saw Glossop with this cast during the run; the Royal Opera database lists the latter in the 8 October performance [http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/performance.aspx?performance=14584&row=16]. I remember B-J as a particularly good Paolo in S. Boccanegra; also a most positive, charismatic Marcello in Boheme, plus (amongst other roles) Sharpless, Papageno and Ford. He also sang several leading roles with Welsh National Opera, including Rigoletto, Boccanegra himself and Iago. I always enjoyed his performances - what a pity that his personal issues prevented him from achieving top rank!

Grab it. Great orchestra and conducting. Amazing singers. Powerful Orlandi Malaspina, with a bit dark voice, which is nice. Bryn-Jones is rough but he was new to me and for this very interesting. Gorr and Harwood good also. Cossutta is very polished, stylish and also with enough voice to sing the role of Gustavus III. For example you can hear his sense for comedy in E scherzo..., his musicality and lyricism in Teco io sto and Forse la soglia attinse. He was great Slovene - Italian tenor or Italian - Slovene tenor, but in the world he is known as great Italian tenor. His family name Cossuta is the Italian version of his Slovene familiy name Košuta. That name is very common among Slovenes from vicinity of Trieste, where Košuta (or Cossuta) was born (Santa Croce del Carso (Križ) near Trieste). He spoke in his typical old Trieste Slovene dialect.

Lovely to hear the young Cossutta in this Verdi role. His voice is beautifully lyric and flows with ease. Orlandi-Malaspina was a run-of-the-mill Amelia and Bryn Jones sounds rather wooly. Elizabeth Harwood is a delight as Oscar and Rita Gorr fans will enjoy her Ulrica. I personally have never been a fan of her quivering vibrato. Edward Downes was a seasoned Verdi conductor - no surprises or risks. Muti's arrival on the scene a while later does make Downs sound a trifle mundane. The recording quality is adequate - one can boost it up with your home equalizers and it will really sound quite good at the end.

An interesting recording of Ballo with an interesting cast too !

I knew Delme Bryn-Jones at the end of his life after he stopped drinking. A wonderful man. He sadly didn’t get back to major public performance but did help a lot of people recover from drink problems, like his own. There are sadly very few recordings of him working. I am very pleased to have found this one to add to my very small collection.

A fitting tribute to Sir Edward Downes who died recently at the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland along with his wife. He conducted every season at Covent Garden for 50 years and was a highly regarded Verdi conductor and scholar, as well as Wagner, Strauss, the Russians etc. Only failing eye sight ended his career. He conducted the first Western performances of Katerina Ismailova

Delme Bryn-Jones was a regular at Covent Garden around this time. I remember especially Di Luna. A big burly man and voice in the Peter Glossop mould. He began to cancel and have vocal problems. I understand drink was a result or the cause.