This admirable performance sounds as immediate and forward as one would expect on a transfer to CD, and it emphasizes the presence of voices and orchestra I admired when listening to the LP equivalent. The performance has much to commend it: Pavarotti's typically fervent account of Enzo's part, Milnes's splendidly characterized but unexaggerated Barnaba, Baltsa's vivid, lightish Laura, Ghiaurov's powerful Alvise. Reservations concern Caballe's Gioconda. I once more enjoyed the subtlety of her portrayal, while wishing it was a little less mannered at certain points, sung with rather fuller timbre, and less forced in the chest-register. The orchestra and chorus respond willingly to Bartoletti's vital conducting.
At present, there are no rivals in the CD catalogue; if the Callas/HMV, one of that artist's best stereo recordings, was to make its way on to CD it would provide stiff competition in terms of interpretation, though I guess it couldn't possibly rival the exciting immediate sound of the Decca, and all-round Decca's cast has much to offer. And let's have no nonsense of this being a second-rate work! It is brim full of melody, skilful scoring, and has a novel and effective form, with at least four characters swept away by their passions.'