"Of course, one of the chief pleasures of hearing Anna Moffo sing Violetta is the pleasure of actually picturing her in this role. This was one of those rare moments when the world of opera boasted a leading lady as beautiful as anyone in Hollywood.
Vocally, one can get hooked on her Violetta and be perpetually disappoined by anyone else. She may not present the most complex heroine, but her delicate, heart of gold, conventionally feminine Violetta works every time. Some of literature and opera's most endearing characters are, after all, simple and direct human beings. There's nothing wrong with primary colors.
This live recording has its technical faults. Often high notes distort at forte. Probably the studio performance on RCA is a greater tribute to the sheer loveliness of Moffo's voice in this role. But this live recording compensates with the excitement of a live performance at La Scala with a larger than life maestro swaying the baton."