Vittorio Gui (Rome, 1885 - Florence, 1975) was one of the finest Verdian conductors of the 20th century. Much admired by Toscanini and Bruno Walter (who in 1933 invited him to Salzburg as a guest conductor), Gui excelled also in the symphonic repertoire: memorable are, for example, his interpretations of Brahms. In 1949 Gui conducted in Glyndebourne a performance of Un ballo in maschera which has remained justly famous. The recording of that performance is now offered for the first time after a careful sound restoration, which makes it possible to appreciate fully the exceptional talent of the Italian conductor and the fine cast, in which stand our the excellent Liuba Welitsch in the role of Amelia and Mirto Picchi as Riccardo.