Since the dawn of the CD era collectors have been hoping and praying for the rerelease of these prized RCA issues. Now long-frayed LPs can be retired: Testament has brought out—in sterling sound—a pair of treasures featuring Roman tenor Cesare Valletti in song repertoire with pianist Leo Taubman. This welcome two-CD set includes a 1958 studio session released as The Art of Song, plus two live Town Hall recitals from 1959 and 1960.

The dashing, aristocratic Valletti dominated the Met’s lyric-tenor repertory for seven seasons starting in 1953, but earned an equivalent reputation in the concert and recital hall. A pupil of legendary tenore di grazia Tito Schipa, Valletti shows some vocal resemblances to his teacher in the basic charm of his sound, artful use of dynamics and forward diction.

Valletti, however, had a greater range, a more solid technique and the ability—unparalleled throughout recording history for a leading Italian opera singer—to perform with utmost conviction in French, German and Spanish as well as his native language. He even ventures a very effectively phrased English-language group at the end of the 1960 concert: songs by Quilter and Dello Joio, plus moving pairs of Rachmaninoff and Grieg chestnuts in translation. There are countless affecting proofs of Valletti’s great artistry and expressive directness to be relished here, from Schubert’s legato-testing “Nacht und Träume” to a devastating “Lamento di Federico.” Bravissimo.