I ordered this disc through my local Exeter dealer 'Opus' having seen the performance on the HD Cinema link from the Met,New York in Feb this year.
After waiting 6 months EMI still failed to bother to get their act together to provide it to the patient shop,let alone myself. What service is this? How can a shop survive with such suppliers? I do try to support local suppliers.
It arrived from Amazon within the week. Well done.
The Met performance in Feb was superb despite Gheorghiu getting over a throat infection at the time. Gheorghiu and Alagna have done much to revive this opera which has been seldom performed.
The Disc, recorded in 1997,is not apparently recorded at a public performance and is clear sharp and very sympathetic, with the two developing their lyrical play finely.
I have't heard other recordings but can't imagine there to be a more passionate interpretation. Gheorghiu is quite simply superb.