It’s interesting that, after Don Carlo in 1964, Rysanek's only Italian role at the Met was Tosca, which she sang there till 1979. In Vienna they had more faith in her Italian repertoire and she sang Amelia 24 times between 1960 and this, her final performance of the role, on 10 November 1976. Unfortunately, as far as I know, no recording with Di Stefano has surfaced as yet, but five performances of varying sound quality survive with Cossutta (1970, 1971), Domingo (1971), Spiess (1973) and this with Merighi (1976), a good, natural-sounding recording despite the odd drop-out.It has to be said that Leonie, who would seem a natural for Verdi’s soaring lines is not always at her happiest at the climaxes of the Act 2 aria and the duet, but elsewhere she sings with wonderful sweep and assurance, as always making something special of the repeated final act warning to Gustav “Cadavere domain sarai tu se qui rimani”.Merighi is an attractive-toned, ringing and musical Gustav, if not quite matching Rysanek’s involvement in the Act 2 duet and Mazurok is a vivid, vocally sumptuous Ankarström. Vienna paid Rysanek the courtesy of a fine supporting cast featuring Reri Grist’s sweet-toned, uniquely pointed Oscar and Fiorenza Cossotto’s gravely sonorous Ulrica reminding us of the importance of these roles.Giuseppe Patane’s conducting is responsive, sensitive to the singers’ needs and wholly idiomatic throughout this highly enjoyable performance.

Rysanek had an uncanny sense of when to retire a role and here we have her final go at Amelia. Her singing is still very fine; in fact, in some portions of the score she sounds better, more at ease than she does 14 years earlier in the Met broadcast. True, her Cs are cautious and quick. She gets off the top C quickly in "Ma dall'arido" and just stabs the final C at the end of the big duet (Merighi sustains it longer - how often does that happen?) But Rysanek is Rysanek and her customary intensity is here in spades.Merighi sings very handsomely as Riccardo. Seen as a second-stringer at the time, he would be a much bigger star today. Mazurok sings with passion as Renato, Grist is a charming Oscar, and Cossotto a formidable Ulrica. Patane leads a strong performance. This sounds like an in-house source, but the voices are heard very clearly. Rysanek fans will love this!

Grab it. Wonderful Merighi as Riccardo, Mazurok as powerful Renato. Lovely Reri Grist as Oscar. Impressive Cossoto as Ulrica. Leonie Rysanek is still very good Amelia (her last one. She sung it in Wiener Staatsoper from 1960 till 1976 (10.11.1976)). Patane conducts well.