Norma
“The cast is a very starry one indeed. …there is a stronger sense of authority, “Sediziose voci” has a more matriarchal sternness, “voci di guerra” a more chesty emphasis… shunning side-by-side comparison with the sounds of 20 years ago… the flexibility remains virtually unimpaired and while Sutherland no longer sings “Casta diva” and the “Mira, o Norma” duets in the original keys (as in 1964), she still has a powerful top D to prolong for bars and bars as the climax to the finale of Act I… [Caballé] manages rather marvellously to adapt her vocal character to that of the younger woman… Caballé shades with exquisite poignancy and finesse. Pavarotti’s Pollione is clean-cut and vigorous, Ramey’s Oroveso authoritative… The recorded sound is a great improvement on the 1965 set.” Gramophone