Not only are Luciano Pavarotti and Fiorenza Cossotto at the top of their form in this live recording of Donizetti"s dramatic La Favorita, but the theater atmosphere brings out their competitive spirit and they thrill, scene after scene. Piero Cappuccilli as the villainous Alfonso is properly cruel-sounding, while bass Ivo Vinco is good in the dreary role of the priest, Baldassare, who tries to save our tenor hero from a life of sin with the king"s "favorite" mistress. The otherwise unknown Nino Verchi leads a taut performance--but how could he fail with a cast like this? A very exciting performance. --Robert Levine