EMI Classics
2004
Verdi: Il Trovatore (complete opera) EMI Great Recordings of the Century with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Herbert von Karajan, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
About This Album
Herbert von Karajan's 1956 studio recording of Verdi's Il trovatore is a fine all-around production, but it will be of special interest to fans of the conductor and Maria Callas, both of whom are at their best here. Under Karajan's baton, not a single moment goes to waste: every articulation, every transition, every tempo and mood seems exactly right; he takes time when the score needs room to breathe, and races forward when it needs to build toward a climax. The result is a genuinely riveting studio recording that rarely tempts you to skip to the next highlight. Callas has to be considered a nearly ideal Leonora. The range of color, phrasing, and expression she finds in the score should be a lesson to any singer who thinks Verdi is all about volume. She is also unusually faithful to Verdi's text, articulating each turn and trill with exceptional clarity and purpose. Her "Tacea la notte placida" and "Di tale amor" from the second scene of Act One are fantastic. Fedora Barbieri is a husky and imposing Azucena, bringing a contralto-like weight and depth, and an expansive top range, to her scenes with Manrico. She never loses sight of the feistiness and sparkle that announce her gypsy bloodlines. Giuseppe di Stefano is a refreshingly direct Manrico, and in excellent voice for this recording. His very top notes lack the ring and thrust of other tenors who made Manrico their bread and butter, but he delivers a satisfying performance. Rolando Panerai is a less vocally opulent singer than is often heard in the role of Count Di Luna, but few singers have brought a more vivid sense of drama to it. ~ Allen Schrott, All Music Guide
Track List

Disc 1

Il Trovatore, Opera
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Disc 2

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