An almost ideal account of Puccini's least-performed mature work, with both Alagna and Gheorghiu at their peak. Valuable extras from Alagna in Le Villi, too.

From first to last, tenderly, often with a throb in the voice, Gheorghiu’s vocal acting convinces you that Magda’s are genuine, deep emotions, painful at the end, intensified by the ravishing beauty of her voice

[Pappano is] so attentive to detail, and Puccini's gorgeous orchestral writing in this opera has never sounded so well as it does here...I've certainly heard no other recording that makes such an overwhelmingly persuasive case for this lovely opera...it's conducted with an ideal mixture of sensuousness and theatrical sweep, and the singing is generally marvellous.

Pappano on this EMi issue transforms the work, revealing it to be another masterpiece...Gheorghiu makes you share the courtesan's wildest dreams of finding her young student...What will specially delight Puccinians in this set is that [Des Grieux] is given an extra aria about Paris, Parigi e una citta

Gheorghiu [is] ideally suited to the role of Magda: her Act One aria, Chi il bel sogno di Doretta is lovely, and Roberto Alagna full of sweet-toned beauty in his Act Three aria, Dimmi che vuoi seguirmi. As an extra attraction, this set also includes highlights from Puccini's very first opera, Le Villi.