Andrea Chénier
Alan Blyth, reviewing inGramophone:"I have never enjoyedChenieras much as on this video. In what we  can now hear and see as a golden era for the performance of Italian opera,  an almost ideal cast was assembled. The staging is conventional in the best  sense, catching much of the frisson of the French revolutionary drama while  concentrating rightly on the principals--and what principals!"Del Monaco, in his prime, is perfect casting for the title-role and  conveys Chenier's ardent, fiery nature in his acting and singing. In spite  of his reputation for unremittingly forte delivery, he here tempers his  stentorian outbursts--the best of which is 'SÃ¬, fui soldato' before the  revolution's tribunal--with singing of a subtler hue. As his beloved  Maddalena, Stella was also at the height of her appreciable, underrated  powers, equal to all the considerable demands of her role and deeply moving  in 'La mamma morta', her explanation of her plight to the complex character  of Gerard. Their scene in Act 3 is the heart of the piece and Taddei is  superb. He gives ample profile to 'Nemico della patria' and thereafter  explores every facet of the role as his lust for Maddalena is sublimated  into platonic affection. His warm, pliant voice is ideally employed  throughout and he acts with patent sincerity--a great assumption. There's  no weakness, many strengths in the all-Italian support, with special praise  due to the blind Madelon whose beseeching solo is movingly done."