Pristine Classical Remastering:

This 1953 recording of “Cav and Pag,” originally made by RCA in New York’s Manhattan Center, has largely remained in print in a variety of issues ever since. It has been criticized by some as being better sung than acted, but Pristine’s rich-sounding XR restoration by Andrew Rose gives us an opportunity to re-evaluate it. There can be little question about the singing—it is glorious. The performances also feel more dramatically engaged than the singers are often given credit for, with all of them invested in their roles and going far beyond the notes.