I reviewed this performance when it appeared on Naxos (type Q66 in Search Reviews), and I feel much the same about it as I hear it again in its new incarnation on Guild, with the sound presumably cleaned up. Listening carefully, the new set does seem somewhat richer in both its highs and lows–and frankly, the Naxos set was pitched a hair higher, but this is only noticeable with a pitch pipe. The voices never distort and the variation is negligible. Vina Bovy remains a great discovery; Lawrence Tibbett’s nastiness works wonders as the villains (even if both high G-sharps in “Scintille diamant” seem desperate); and René Maison’s Hoffmann is still admirable for its passionate commitment and ease of delivery up to about an A-natural. The Met is clearly well-reharsed and having a fine ensemble afternoon, and Maurice Abravanel keeps things going with drama and forward propulsion. As I said then, this makes “an excellent addition to any collection.” For those concerned about such things, I should add that it’s cheaper from Naxos.
