This set is a classic, and the only reason to steer clear of it is the uniformly poor sound. Maria Callas and Leonard Bernstein rarely performed together and it’s a pity–they both had strong musical personalities and when they came together in agreement, as they did here, the result was dynamite. Callas plays Amina as a sweet girl who very much loves and wants her tenor boyfriend, Elvino. When he wrongly denounces her, she is crushed. All of the life leaves her voice and personality and when, at last, she is vindicated, she returns triumphantly and lustily for a spectacular final scene. And she’s in spectacular voice throughout. No less fine is the under-recorded and under-rated Cesare Valletti, who focuses his basically light voice like a laser, brilliantly articulating the notes and text. The rest of the cast is good, and although Bernstein takes the usual cuts, the performance as a whole is riveting. This is a must-own recording, despite its terrible sonics.
