This is truely very sad that Decca chose to release this Ernani which features the decline of two of the greatest singers of our time, Dame Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavorotti. Dame Joan Sutherland, the vocal wonder of our time, the greatest coloratura in history, was near retirement at the time of this recording. She should have retired as the greatest Prima Donna of the twentieth century, but to attempt this dramatic role at the age of 62 was just disastrous. Please refer to Dame Joan's earlier Lucia's, Semiramides, and Puritanis as the true samples of her miraculous voice. Pavorotti fares a little better, but to have heard him in Turandot makes this a disappointment. Yes, the conducting is very good indeed, but we need two different singers for the leading roles.