Joan Sutherland in Highlights From La Traviata (Verdi); John Pritchard; Carlo Bergonzi; Robert Merrill (Vinyl Lp)

I must admit that I purchased this recording from another vendor. This recording, made in November 1962, features a Joan Sutherland at her very best. Her voice is huge and young and fresh and beautiful and not matronly as in her 1979 Traviata recording. She never sounded better than this. Her "Sempre libera" is sung with a freedom and excitement that is unparalleled. She flies up to the High C's and E-flat as if they were child's play. The coloratura work is done with great agility and at lightning speed. If, like me, your most important prerequisite is tonal beauty, you will find it here--in spades. Her Alfredo, Carlo Bergonzi, is also singing at his best with none of the dryness of tone that appears in his voice just a few years later. Her Germont, Robert Merrill, is still in his prime and is splendid in the role. This is a "dream cast" and, honestly, is the only complete "La Traviata" recording that I have listened to for years. But, if intense portrayal of deep emotion is your most important requirement in a Violetta, you might try Beverly Sills. Her acting in the last act is very moving and credible, but she shows vocal fragility in the "Sempre libera", and you also have to put up with Nicolai Gedda--and that I just won't do.