This new release from Opera D'Orio, gives us a RARE chance to hear Renata Tebaldi, supposedly at her peak. It's a live RAI broadcast from 1961, with Barioni as Dick Johnson, Guelfi as Rance, and Tebaldi as Minnie, a role she didn't perform onstage until 1970 at the MET. While this recording has it's moments, it is not Tebaldi's or Barioni's finest hour. I strongly urge you to buy the DECCA/LONDON complete opera with Tebaldi. It is an unforgettable, exciting, sweeping performance. However, you may have to hunt at Amazon/UK or elsewhere for it. This CD set had to be in my collection, as it is the first time it has ever been put on LP or CD, but I will not listen to it much. Basile's conducting is choppy, never giving ANY life at all to this recording. There are better Faniculla's out there, with Tebaldi. Unfortunately, you have to hunt for them.