There have been many greater Verdi performances in history (and in the original language, too) but this one is damn good and has been a favorite for years. The Storm Trio fits so well with both Miller’s onstage concept and the film noir camerwork, and all three singers inhabit their roles so totally and fearlessly. In fact, though both the Gilda and the Sparafucile had major international careers, it’s local girl Jean Rigby who steals this for me. Digging into chest voice like nodules don’t exist, and for once a Maddalena who seems desperately committed to saving a man she has fallen for, rather than auditioning for a particularly route one production of Carmen. And on a personal note, since I doubt that I’ll get the chance to say this again–it tickles me that this was filmed on the stage I’m currently performing on. I think I got the link right, but if not, we’re looking at the storm trio, which starts around 1hr47.