Legendary recording of Strauss II"s opera, featuring some of the greatest opera stars of the mid-twentieth century. In addition to the opera itself - which features Hilde Gueden, Regina Resnik, Waldemar Kmentt, Erberhard Waechter, Walter Berry, and Erich Kunz - the Gala Scene includes appearances by Renata Tebaldi, Mario Del Monaco, Joan Sutherland, and Leontyne Price. Von Karajan is at the peak of his mastery of the conductor"s podium. The complete opera plus bonus performances in the "Gala" scene by Renata Tebaldi ("Vilja-Lied" from the Merry Widow), Fernando Corena ("Domino"), Birgit Nilsson ("I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady), Mario del Monaco ("Passione"), Teresa Berganza ("Lullaby" by Felix Lavilla), Joan Sutherland ("Il bacio" by Luigi Arditi), Jussi Bjorling ("Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" from Das Land des Lächelns), Leontyne Price ("Summertime" from Porgy and Bess), Giulietta Simionato ("Anything You Can Do" from Annie Get Your Gun), and Ljuba Welitsch ("Wien, Wien nur du allein" by Rudolf Sieczynski).