La Gioconda

With Renata Tebaldi wringing every bit of drama out of the title role, there are plenty of opportunities for goose bumps here. Add to that Carlo Bergonzi’s glowing portrayal of the Enzo, the man she loves and the impassioned Fiorenza Cossotto as the woman he loves, plus one jealous husband (Bonaldo Giaiotti), and an Inquisition spy (Cornell MacNeil) bent on revenge, and you have operatic extravagance at its wonderful best, all set in romantic, mysterious 17th century Venice.