What opera recordings do you rank at the top?

Saturday is the 100th anniversary of Verdi's death. To acknowledge this
centennial, the New York Times today published, "Verdi, for one and all:
The Critics Favorite recordings

   http://www.nytimes.com/email

to sign up.

   http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/26/arts/26VERD.html

to see the article.

Critics list their favorite recordings of Verdi works: Anthony Tommasini,
Allan Kozinn, Bernard Holland, James R. Oestreich, Anne Midgette, and Paul
Griffths.  There are some with which you will agree and some you won't...
which ones were left out?

Ray Bayles