Martina Arroyo made some important studio recordings, but usually as a substitute for another soprano (let's not be coy: it was Caballe.) She was famous for her singing of the Trovatore Leonora so it's good to have a souvenir of her in the role while she was still in her vocal prime. She has everything one wants in a Verdi soprano: a beautiful timbre, secure, easy high notes, and an ability to spin a long line. Her accounts of the two big arias would win her ovations today. The Covent Garden is far more circumspect, greeting her Act Four "D'amor sul ali rosee" with glacial silence. Her interpolated high D-flat at the end of Act One brings cheers (Mackerras probably shook his head in disapproval!) She also interpolates a top C into the Miserere and includes a a verse of Leonora's oft-cut cabaletta "Tu vedrai" in Act Four. She is a very satisfying Leonora.Cossotto and Cossutta are both very exciting. Ladislaus Konya, a German-Hungarian baritone, sang quite a lot in Europe at this time. He's a good Di Luna if not a great one. His vibrato is steady, but a little too wooly though he knows how the role is supposed to go. Vinco is an excellent Ferrando. Mackerras leads with assurance. He could conduct just about anything well.The voices are heard clearly over the orchestra though I don't think this was a broadcast. There is an odd pause during the Act Two Azucena-Manrico duet that should've been edited out, but at least no music is missing.Recommended to all Verdians!

A great Trovatore in good sound and very exciting singing !!!

One of the best live recordings of Giuseppe Verdi's masterful opera "Il trovatore"! Highly recommended! A must!

Fine performance under Mackerras. It’s great to have the under-recorded Martina Arroyo singing here, Cossotto delivers as only she could and Cossutta - also less recorded than he deserved - is a great Manrico. Di Luna doesn’t spoil the show, but he is the weakest of the four principals. I really enjoyed this performance.

Like Aida, Leonora in Il Trovatore was a role Arroyo never got to make a studio recording of. While that was a loss it is great to find this recording of her in the role. She sings it beautifully. In 1973 her voice was at its best. Cossotto is wonderful as Azucena (as always). Cossutta is quite wonderful, as well, as Manrico. His quality is very beautiful and quite lyrical, yet, he mangoes to be heroic at the same time. There should have been more recordings with him. He was a very much underrated artist in his time. Today he would be considered one of the greats. Konya is OK but not much more. Vinco is always reliable. Recommended!

I saw all these performances, Arroyo was a wonderful Verdi soprano,Cossutta was underrated but not at the Garden.The baritone was the weak link and his last performances at the ROH by Ivo Vinco.This was great time at the ROH.In this period of 6weeks there was Tosca with Bumbry-Bergonzi.Aida with L>Price-Cruz-Romo,Bergonzi,M.Dunn and Mastromei,Lucia with Sutherland, Pavarotti and Quilico, Arabella with Heather Harper.