Such was the case with this early recording (1982) of Berlioz’s La Mort de Cléopâtre, with Jessye Norman, Orchestre de Paris, conducted by Barenboim.  She has ruined it for me….   she embodies all the facets of Cleopatra facing death, from fury, anguish, shame and finally, resignation.  All her interpretative powers are on display— listen to how she contorts her mouth spits out “un vil reptil est mon recours” towards the end.  Although she refers to the asp, her contempt might have been directed at all her enemies: her brother, family, Romans, even her lovers. (Unfortunately on Youtube, it is split up into sections, just follow them along — this is the first track. )