Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana & Leoncavallo: Pagliacci (2 complete operas) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

When it works properly, verismo opera has an impact something like a punch in the stomach. This, one of the archetypal verismo operas (the other is its Siamese twin, Cavalleria Rusticana) delivers a particularly hard and accurate punch from Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Tullio Serafin, and--oh, all right--Giuseppe Di Stefano. The tenor is in great voice and impassioned, which will do well enough for Canio, the wronged, inconsolable, and murderously vengeful husband in this opera about show-biz and backstage heartbreak. Callas and Gobbi are subtle, protean; her voice is in good shape by Callas standards, and his is used so artfully that its tonal qualities don't matter much. Rolando Panerai's sterling performance as Silvio, the third side of a triangle with Di Stefano and Callas, is a bonus. Serafin and the La Scala Orchestra and Chorus are excellent. --Joe McLellan