This is the best of the CD transfers of historic Ansermet recordings so far and anyone who wants to hear as never before the original interpreter of this magical ballet score need not hesitate. The LP version has been a prime recommendation over the 23 years since it was issued, warmer and more relaxed than many of Ansermet's interpretations on record. The acoustic of Victoria Hall, Geneva, gives what is still an amazing sense of presence, not least on the voices at the start, the shouted cries of ''Ole'' as well as Berganza's characterful mezzo. On CD only a degree of constriction in big tuttis seriously betrays that it is not a modern recording.
The practical point however is whether historically Ansermet should be preferred or the equally sympathetic and often subtler and more dramatic Dutoit (also Decca), whose brilliant digital recording remains one of my favourite CD demonstration discs, with sound that is outstanding even by Decca standards. Generally Dutoit's speeds are faster and the ensemble of the Montreal orchestra a degree crisper than that of the Suisse Romande with rhythms more subtly pointed. Also, Dutoit's coupling of the complete Amor brujo ballet is far more generous than the attractive but brief pieces from La vida breve.'