What many celebrate as the reference studio recording of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro was recorded in 1959 with the same orchestra, chorus, conductor and famed soprano in the role of the Countess Almaviva. This live recording, captured a mere two years later London in 1961, with almost an entirely different cast excepting the great German soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in the aforementioned role makes for a superb complimentary recording to it's near contemporary, it's fine cast including, among others, Heather Harper and Elisabeth Söderstrom at the start what became prominent careers.

Though it's at first blush less than star-studded in the international sense when taking in account the long, historical view of opera recordings, there is Ettore Bastianini and Boris Christoff to contend with, and Italian casting of Italian opera was in fairly fine mettle in the 1960s. Giuseppe Verdi certainly had his struggles with Don Carlo, but the opera, his longest when performed at full length, tells a powerful story of personal and political conflict, and there's much glorious music to enjoy in this superb performance, preserved in excellent sound, conducted by Mario Rossi in 1961.

From a 1960 live performance in the Teatro Colòn Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ponchielli's La Gioconda's libretto was written by composter Arrigo Boito who adapted it from a play by Victor Hugo. A quintessential operatic tale of thwarted love and devotion this performance features the American soprano Lucille Udovich, noted mezzo-soprano Mignon Dunn, longtime Metropolitan Opera member bass Norman Scott, and tenor Flaviano Labo with the Teatro Colòn Orchestra and Choir conducted by Carlo Felice Cillario.

Following the Walhall release of Wagner’s Die Walküre, the label closes its legendary 1958 Bayreuth Festival Ring tetralogy publication with the 1st, 3rd and final operas, led by the mid-20th c. Bayreuth pit regular and esteemed Wagnerian conductor Hans Knappertsbusch. The sound, benefitting from 24bit/96kHz re-mastering technology is great, far better than any other label’s previous issue, Walhall also reaping the sound reward from the use of the original broadcast mastertapes. Featured Wagnerian vocal luminaries include Hotter, Windgassen, Varnay, Konya, Grümmer, et al.

The American Richard Tucker’s ringing, clarion, enthusiastic tenor in its prime is a self-recommending statement; his presence on the world’s opera stages and even on American television (search out footage of him singing under the razor-sharp control of the great Toscanini) always a joy to hear. This 1959 live Verdi Rigoletto from the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Italy may, aside from Renato Capecchi and possibly Ivan Sardi, leave you amiss in the name-recognition department, but the cast and the sound, re-mastered and fine for its time and circumstance, will win listener’s over.