Vanessa, Barber's first opera, in its European première, 16th August 1958, a co-oproduction with the Metropolitan Opera, which had staged the world première in January prior to the Salzburg revival. The Met provided the sets and production, together with the conductor and the singers of the principal roles, while Salzburg contributed the smaller roles, chorus and orchestra.With the richly opulent Vienna Philharmonic, the great Greek conductor, Dmitri Mitropoulus draws us into this still relatively rare, musical drama here performed by true singing actors. Worth mentioning superb performances from, in particular, Rosalind Elias, Nicolai Gedda and Mitropoulos himself, on the opening night.

Cast:
- Eleanor Steber (Vanessa)
- Rosalind Elias (Erika)
- Ira Malaniuk (Baroness)
- Nicolai Gedda (Anatol)
- Giorgio Tozzi (old Doctor)
- Alois Pernerstorfer (Nicholas)