Leonora, the passionate young girl choosing seclusion and life as a hermit to avoid the revenge of her brother and punish herself for her forbidden love with Alvaro and the death of her father, is one of the most tragic roles of the Verdian repertoire. It was also the first roles Maria Callas took up in her career. This recording with her mentor Tullio Serafin features an amazing cast and is one of the high points of the Verdi discography.