Do Stefano is at the peak of his career. Stella matches him note for note. Entire casts crackles. Recommend highly.

Most of us opera lovers are more familiar with the Ballo broadcast from the following year when Di Stefano was joined by Callas and Simionato. That was a great performance too, but this one was equally good. Stella has no trouble with any of Amelia's music, soaring to a thrilling top C in her first aria and joining Di Stefano in an exciting rendition of the central "Teco io sto" duet. She also sings a moving "Morro" though here she's a little too weepy for my taste. She also omits the cadenza to the aria, admittedly a traditional omission at the time. Di Stefano is in glorious voice, better in fact than he would be the next year. He sings a sexy, appealing Riccardo. Too bad he wore the enamel off his voice so quickly! His rendition of the last act aria is simply superb. Bastianini is a terrific Renato and Stignani an impressive Ulrica. Ratti is a good, somewhat shrill Oscar. The other singers are very good. Gavazzeni leads a spirited reading, no complaints here.The sound is very good though I wish whoever prepared this for CD hadn't cut off the applause so abruptly. There is some brief crosstalk in Act Three, but it isn't too disruptive.