These new re-masterings cast fresh light on seminal recordings of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci, both featuring Mario del Monaco. He was in his prime when he recorded Turiddu and Canio, and his performances in both recordings could hardly be more spine-tingling.

Cavalleria rusticana was recorded in 1954 and Pagliacci in 1953.

Franco Ghione’s feeling for the lyricism of Mascagni’s score is clear from the outset, reminding us that although this music is usually regarded as marking the birth of verismo, it is in many ways a continuation of the Bellinian love affair with the vocal line. Alberto Erede conducts a grippingly dramatic Pagliacci. The scoring is brilliant and Erede makes the most of it.

Lavished with praise when first issued, they are released from hibernation to enjoy new life on CD.

‘… a recording of Pagliacci stands or falls by its Canio, and Mario del Monaco has a role which fits him like a glove. […] Clara Petrella has a warm voice, and sings the part of Nedda with great dramatic conviction […] Afro Poli is really excellent as Tonio […] [the performance of the chorus and orchestra] under the baton of Alberto Erede is superb. In fact I have never heard finer choral or orchestral recording than we are given on these discs. […] Probably more important than anything, there is a feeling of cohesion about the whole production, and the discs really do create in most vivid fashion, the atmosphere of an actual performance.’ - Gramophone, November 1953

‘Elena Nicolai has one of those beefy, beautiful Italian mezzo-sorano voices … it is a magnificent sounding organ, vibrant, passionate, beautifully placed. […] Signor Del Monaco is well cast as Turridu: his magnificent power and rather bullying way with a phrase conjure up well the Don Juan of this Sicilian village.’ - Gramophone, June 1954