Il Trovatore - Verdi
Il Trovatore - Verdi
| 01 January 1978 (USA)
Il Trovatore - Verdi Trailers

The gypsy Azucena (Fiorenza Cossotto) takes revenge for her mother who was accused of putting a curse on one of the old Count di Luna's two sons: she decides to abduct the younger child and throw it in the flames. But when she is about to carry out this fatal act, the gypsy sacrifices her own child and keeps the old Count’s son, whom she names Manrico (IL TROVATORE, Plácido Domingo). Later, as adults, the troubadour Manrico and the Count di Luna’s elder son (Piero Cappucilli) do not know each other, but become rivals for the beautiful Leonora (Raina Kabaivanska). Manrico succeeds in winning the young woman’s heart, and she sacrifices herself for him, deceiving the Count’s son. Mad with jealousy, the latter orders the execution of the troubadour in front of his mother. Azucena reveals to him that Manrico was his brother. This legendary performance of Giuseppe Verdi's most successful opera was recorded at the Vienna State Opera under the baton of Herbert von Karajan.

Reviews
museumofdave

Top marks given for one compelling reason: to see and hear the mesmerizing singing discipline that is Placido Domingo in his youthful prime: commitment, power, and intensity combine to showcase a quintessential Manrico; there's little wrong with the legendary Florenza Cossoto, either, though she is towards the end of her career--her fiendish gypsy always seems teetering on the edge of sanity; the other singers do not lack opera chops, nor does the muscular conducting of Herbert Von Karajan.Viewers should take into account this version is over thirty years old, thus not measuring up to contemporary excellence in filming Verdi spectacle, i.e., far too many close-ups when a trio should be captured in a wide sweep, or sometimes lacking better sets--but these are minor cavils when it comes to the main event: the great Domingo and his amazing tenor

... View More
TheLittleSongbird

I am 17, and I adore opera. My godparents, who are both singers, like me, keep showing me old opera videos, and I watched this, and was stunned by the darkness and beauty of it.You can't do better than these three stars, Domingo, Cossotto, and Kabaivanska, in this sort of opera. The opera is very complicated, but the music by Verdi is deliciously dark and sometimes haunting. For instance the tenor aria is lovely though difficult. Usually I don't like the Anvil Chorus, but I am slowly warming to it, after how well it was performed here. My personal favourite is the haunting and heart-rending Miserere, the melody(in A flat minor, a truly difficult key to play in, as it is in 7 flats) is enough to bury your head into your hands and start sobbing. Now for the performances. Placido Domingo was brilliant as Manrico, with his charisma and commanding stage presence as well as that magnificent voice of his. Raina Kabaivanska has done a number of truly excellent performances, like in Pagliacci and Tosca, but this deserves to be up there as one of her finest. Fiorenza Cossotto, a highly underrated and talented mezzo-soprano is a joy to behold as Azucena. Piero Cappuccili is a name I am not familiar with, but he was very menacing as Count Di Luna. Herbert Von Karajan conducts with his usual artistic flair, this people was a truly excellent conductor, one of the best of the twentieth century, people consider him to be. All in all, a gem of an production doing justice to a truly complicated but magnificent opera. 10/10 Bethany Cox.

... View More
Conspirator Slash

Perfect. Only two little things what I didn't like: Karajan's shortcuts (for example Leonora's cabaletta in act IV), and the chorus - typical Vienna citizens, they doesn't seem to be gypsies or soldiers.All other things are great.Fiorenza Cossotto almost steals the show. Her voice is beautiful and her performance is awesome. Domingo - an ideal voice and an ideal man for this. Forget Pavarotti, he was ridiculous on-stage. Domingo is a real tenore drammatico and very handsome. The first Manrico I ever believed he's the soprano's dream. Raina Kabaivanska - gorgeous voice, nice, slim, young woman. That's how Leonora should be. And Karajan stole her cabaletta. Yealous old villain. :D Piero Cappuccilli was "the" Verdi baritone in this time, he sang always beautiful and knew all about the soul of Verdi's characters. José van Dam is a great singer, even in a smaller role. And men! Heinz Zednik as Ruiz! The best Mime ever in a two-lines-part! Almost too much! :D

... View More