This performance of Il Trovatore belongs, rather definitively, to Montserrat Caballé. She is in superb voice, and for an artist often critiqued for her casual approach to diction, she delivers with striking clarity here. Though Il Trovatore is, by design, an ensemble opera, Caballé's presence in Act IV—particularly in the scena beginning with a breathtaking display of portamento—makes it feel like a one-woman show.

Fedora Barbieri is the only principal to rival her for attention. Her sound remains as rich and intriguing as ever, though there are moments where she seems less engaged with the dramatic action. The men fare less well: Kostas Paskalis brings a sneering edge to Di Luna but little nuance, and Umberto Borsò shouts his way through Manrico with limited tonal variety.