Even in a crowded field of distinguished sopranos, Martina Arroyo asserts herself here as a Verdian interpreter for the ages. Her Leonora in La forza del destino meets the role’s formidable demands with security and freedom, uniting intensity of expression with moments of strikingly fragile subtlety. Sherrill Milnes brings welcome bravado and theatrical flair to Don Carlo, as always interpolating the odd high-note whenever the opportunity arose.. By contrast, Charles Craig proves a less consistent Alvaro: the voice no longer retains the bloom of his earlier years, and audible fatigue sets in as the performance progresses.
Renata Capecchi, as Melitone, repeatedly commands attention, shaping each appearance with such character and timing that he effectively steals the scene whenever he is onstage.
CAST
Marchese di Calatrava – Robert Lloyd
Donna Leonora di Vargas – Martina Arroyo
Curra – Elizabeth Bainbridge
Don Alvaro – Charles Craig
Alcade – Paul Hudson
Don Carlos di Vargas – Sherrill Milnes
Trabuco – John Dobson
Preziosilla – Katherine Pring
Fra Melitone – Renato Capecchi
Il Padre Guardiano – David Ward
Un Chirurgo – William Elvin
DETAILS
Location: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
Date: December 26, 1973
Conductor: Giuseppe Patanè
Catalogue Number: OD 12341-3
Label: Opera Depot
Number of Discs: 3 In Mono
BONUS
Martina Arroyo Sings Arias From Il Trovatore
London, 1973
La forza del destino
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
DESCRIPTION
Even in a crowded field of distinguished sopranos, Martina Arroyo asserts herself here as a Verdian interpreter for the ages. Her Leonora meets the role’s formidable demands with security and freedom, uniting intensity of expression with moments of strikingly fragile subtlety. Sherrill Milnes brings welcome bravado and theatrical flair to Don Carlo, as always interpolating the odd high-note whenever the opportunity arose. By contrast, Charles Craig proves a less consistent Alvaro: the voice no longer retains the bloom of his earlier years, and audible fatigue sets in as the performance progresses.
Renata Capecchi, as Melitone, repeatedly commands attention, shaping each appearance with such character and timing that he effectively steals the scene whenever he is onstage.
CAST
Un Chirurgo – Robert Lloyd
Il Padre Guardiano – Martina Arroyo
Fra Melitone – Elizabeth Bainbridge
Preziosilla – Charles Craig
Trabuco – Paul Hudson
Don Carlos di Vargas – Sherrill Milnes
Alcade – John Dobson
Don Alvaro – Renato Capecchi
Curra – Katherine Pring
Donna Leonora di Vargas – David Ward
Marchese di Calatrava – William Elvin
DETAILS
Location: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
Date: December 26, 1973
Conductor: Giuseppe Patanè
Catalogue Number: OD 12341-3
Label: Opera Depot
Number of Discs: 3 In Mono
BONUS
Martina Arroyo Sings Arias From Il Trovatore
London, 1973
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Track List
Act I
1. Sinfonia
2. Buona notte, mia figlia. Addio, diletta
3. Me pellegrina ed orfana
4. Ah, per sempre, o mio bell'angiol
5. Seguirti fino agl'ultimi confini della terra
6. Vil seduttor! Infame figlia!
Act II
7. Holà! holà! holà!
8. Al suon del tamburo
9. Padre Eterno Signor, pietà di noi
10. Son Pereda, son ricco d'onore
11. Sta bene... Ucciso fu quel Marchese?
12. Sono giunta! Grazie, o Dio!
13. Madre, pietosa Vergine
14. Chi siete?
15. Or siam soli
16. Se voi scacciate questa pentita
17. Sull'alba il piede all'eremo
18. Il santo nome di Dio Signore sia benedetto
19. La Vergine degli Angeli
Act III
20. Attenti al gioco, attenti
21. La vita è inferno all'infelice... O tu che in seno agli angeli
22. Al tradimento!
23. Solenne in quest'ora
24. Morir! Tremenda cosa!... Urna fatale
25. Ah! egli è salvo! Oh gioia immensa
26. Compagni, sostiamo
27. Sleale! Il segreto fu dunque violato?
28. Lorché pifferi e tamburi
29. Toh! Toh! Poffare il mondo!
30. Rataplan, rataplan, della gloria
Act IV
31. Fate la carità
32. Del mondo i disinganni
33. Invano Alvaro ti celasti al mondo
34. Le minaccie, i fieri accenti
35. Pace, pace, mio Dio!
36. Io muoio! Confessione! L'alma salvate.
37. Non imprecare, umiliati
BONUS
38. Tacea la notte
39. Timor di me... D'amor sull'ali rosee