Verdi: Il Trovatore - Caballé, Barbieri, Paskalis, Borsò; Cillario. Barcelona, 1966

$8.95



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This performance belongs, rather completely, to Montserrat Caballé. She is in excellent voice and for an artist famed for her inattention to the words, surprisingly impeccable in her diction. Il Trovatore is an ensemble piece, but when a Leonora of this magnitude begins her Act IV scena with an absolutely stunning display of portamento, it might as well be a one woman show. Fedora Barbieri is the only other principal to provide competition. Her sound is as beautiful and fascinating as ever, though she at times seems rather checked out of the action. Neither of the men, a sneering Kostas Paskalis and a shouting Umberto Borsò make much of an impact. The sound is solid, but some music is missing from the top of each act, most notably in Act III.

OD 11336-2