[SACD-R][OF] Giacomo Puccini - Madama Butterfly (Erich Leinsdorf, RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra and Chorus) - 1962/2006 (Classical)

Leontyne Price is the most ravishing of voices to have graced the Operatic stage during the 20th century. This recording is superbly directed by Leinsdorf & the rest of the cast provides superb support, especially Richard Tucker, who is in top form. A must have version.
Amazon reviews:
A dream recording, 15 Dec 2009
By Papageno “Limpet” (Devon,South West, England)
Leontyne Price is the most ravishing of voices to have graced the Operatic stage during the 20th century. This recording is superbly directed by Leinsdorf & the rest of the cast provides superb support, especially Richard Tucker, who is in top form. A must have version.
The SACD reissue of Leontyne Price’s “Butterfly”,
By John D. Truslow – Published on Amazon.com
If your stereo system is sophisticated enough to reveal the differences between CD issues of performances & the SACD reissues of the same material, & if you love Leontyne Price’s early performances, then you should rush to get this. (There are 3 other Living Stereo operas now also available as SACDs: “Turandot,” “La Boheme,” & “La Traviata.” These are also perfectly gorgeous.) The improvement made by remastering this opera set (& the other 3) brings the sound very, very close to that of really good vinyl – but without the surface noise, ticks, & pops.
Superb Remastering, 13 Sep 2006
By Mark Hite – Published on Amazon.com
This recording of Madama Butterfly is one of my all time favorites. It was one of the 1st 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, & 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 & 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 & subtlety, the equal of any of the “Living Stereo” era recordings. The 3D soundstage is spacious, the orchestra warm & detailed, & the voices exquisitely clear & 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 & “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 & R2R versions still sound good, but a little flat, 2-dimensional, & 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 & heart-felt performances of Price & 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 & 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!