Re: Callas' Armida; also Fleming's

Get the one with Cecilia Gasdia.  Not as lovely a voice as Fleming, but a more
specific and spirited performance (in Fleming's defence, I believe she learned
the role at the last minute as a replacement for someone else) -- much livelier
tempi and savoring of the orchestral sonorities from Scimone than on the
Fleming/Sony.  Excellent contributions from everyone else too (Fleming's
supporting cast is good also).  The Callas is a valuable souvenir of the diva's
performance (and it IS quite a performance!) but the grainy recorded sound
cannot convey the richness of the orchestration and the men cannot cope with
the florid writing.  It's also heavily cut.