This 1970 live Don Giovanni is an odd performance, not altogether satisfying (and certainly not up to the level of Giulini's magnificent EMI recording with Waechter and Sutherland), but with much to offer. Nicolai Ghiaurov is in his most luxurious voice as the Don, and if his interpretation is not subtle, well, who says it's supposed to be? Sesto Bruscantini is a fine foil for him as Leporello, savoring the text and singing with great style. Alfredo Kraus' Don Ottavio is very classy indeed; his many fans will surely need this set. Gundula Janowitz is an odd choice for Donna Anna since passion is one of the few emotions her silvery, fluttery sound is incapable of, but she can be very impressive in a foreign sort of way. Sena Jurinac's Donna Elvira is well characterized but she sounds a bit tired at times. (Maybe Janowitz would've been better cast as Elvira?) The Zerlina is pretty mediocre and the others are simply okay. Carlo Maria Giulini leads the somewhat wayward but always willing Rome forces in a good show but somehow it all fails to take fire. Stick with Giulini on EMI unless Janowitz, Kraus, and Ghiaurov are "musts" in your life.

--Robert Levine