Il trovatore has been ruthlessly parodied. It is a tale of murder and mayhem, burned babies, roasted hags, would be nuns, strolling minstrels and bad baritones. And indeed the libretto does call for a willing suspension of disbelief. The reward is in the music, a score as prodigally melodic as only the mature Verdi could write: the ‘Anvil’ Chorus, the ‘Miserere’ scene, two great tenor arias, a beautiful baritone aria – a richness without embarrassment.

© 2014 Naxos Audiobooks (Lydbog): 9781843793199

Release date

Lydbog: 1. maj 2014