Elena Nicolai (Santuzza), Mario del Monaco (Turiddu/Canio), Aldo Protti (Alfio); Clara Petrella (Nedda), Afro Poli (Tonio), Piero de Palma (Beppe) & Aldo Protti (Silvio)

Teatro alla Scala, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Franco Ghione, Alberto Erede

Recorded: 1953

"...a recording of Pagliacci stands or falls by its Canio, and Mario del Monaco has a role which fits him like a glove. […] Clara Petrella has a warm voice, and sings the part of Nedda with great dramatic conviction […] Afro Poli is really excellent as Tonio […] [the performance of the chorus and orchestra] under the baton of Alberto Erede is superb. In fact I have never heard finer choral or orchestral recording than we are given on these discs. […] Probably more important than anything, there is a feeling of cohesion about the whole production, and the discs really do create in most vivid fashion, the atmosphere of an actual performance." - Gramophone Magazine November 1953