This Butterfly is quite excellent for many reasons. The singing is outstanding. Price is wonderful, Elias is so good. And, even if I am not a fan of Tucker, he is quite a misguided hero. While not as loud as DelMonaco, he is one hell of a great voice. In the end, this is truly a tragedy of wide proportions.
The conducting of Leinsdorf is satisfactory. Not Karajan, but very good.
So, the sonics are quite good as well.
You can enjoy this issue in rbcd and SACD!!!

I LOVE it! This does NOT sound like 1962 (let alone RCA, which usually sounds kinda bland to me)! I have yet to hear the famous Barbirolli (and Scotto, whom I do not care for, but also the wonderful Bergonzi! I will get it someday) and I have the Callas in the mail, but this is so great. I heard Leontyne's "Un bel di" on my FIRST classical CD, "Opera's Greatest Moments", and I fell in love with it then; in fact, I prefer her rendition above ALL others, including Callas, Freni, Ponselle, et al. By the way, the other singers on this recording are also fabulous! I can only imagine how much more PERFECT this sounds in SACD! I must get a player soon! BUY THIS!!!

This recording of Madama Butterfly is one of my all time favorites. It was one of the first records that I bought myself in the early 1970's. Since then I have acquired original 1963 LP pressings, UK-made LP's, the the original R2R tape, and the old CD issue, all in hopes of finding the best sounding edition. Up till now, the Reel-Reel tape was the best, apparently avoiding the some of the dull Dynagroove equalization that RCA imposed on this and most of its subsequent 1960's releases.

Now here is where the DSD/SACD mastering has proved its worth! This disc reveals a master recording of breadth and subtlety, the equal of any of the "Living Stereo" era recordings. The 3D soundstage is spacious, the orchestra warm and detailed, and the voices exquisitely clear and vivid. All of this is in a sound environment that is never forced or harsh. I think one can safely say that we have never truly heard this beautiful performance in all of its glory until now.

In previous releases that I have heard in this Living Stereo SACD series, I found the sound either to be a little flat compared to the original LP's, or somewhat aggressive and "in-your-face" in a way that the magnificent "Living Stereo" LP's never were. This issue is just the opposite. Compared to these magnificent CD's, the old LP and R2R versions still sound good, but a little flat, two-dimensional, and lacking in detail compared to the SACD. Maybe the RCA/BMG SACD series has found its real value in revealing the true beauty of "Dynagroove"-era recordings that RCA previously offered only in over-equalized versions. I hope to see many more on SACD, including the best recordings that Leinsdorf made with the Boston Symphony. An SACD of the Leinsdorf/Boston "Lohengrin" is something to truly dream for.

Don't hesitate to buy this disc. The sumptious and heart-felt performances of Price and Tucker along with the flexible idiomatic orchestral performance have long made this a classic. Now we can hear it on CD in all its magnificence. For those who don't have SACD capability, the CD layer is also derived from the new DSD master and is very fine, well worth the reasonable price.

The packaging is bare-bones, with links to an online libretto for downloading. The booklet does reprint the original 1962 notes; but there are no photos or new notes regarding the artists, recording, or the remastering. There is just a generic technical essay that is included in all of the SACD releases. Still, at this price, who's complaining? Highest recommendation!