Verdi: Il Trovatore - Sass, Casellato-Lamberti, Dunn, Sardinero, Ferrin; Santi. Hamburg, 1977
$4.48
Listen to a Sample:
This recording of Il Trovatore is attractive as it affords a glimpse into the brief but brilliant career of the Hungarian soprano Sylvia Sass. Initially hailed as a possible successor to the Callas legacy, she brought beauty of tone and an innate sense of style. Unfortunately, like many of the other Callas would-be heiresses, the voice could not sustain the demands of the repertory. This performance, however, substantiates the initial expectations. She is joined by veteran Mignon Dunn as Azucena who seems to have a magnificent time delivering an oversized Azucena and singing like a force of nature. Giorgio Casellato-Lamberti is a sturdy Manrico delivering the ringing tones that one expects for this role but not a whole lot else. Vicente Sardinero is a suave Di Luna and Nello Santi renders a sublime reading from the Hamburgers. The sound is fair to good. I must point out that there is a substantial chunk missing in the opening of Act III from "Giorni poveri vivea" in addition to a few minor breaks. I have included, at the end of the set, the missing material featuring the great Irene Dalis.
BONUS:
Irene Dalis sings "Giorni poveri vivea" from Il Trovatore
Hamburg, March 24, 1970
OD 10642-2
