Il Trovatore - Rare excerpts from Met "Scratch Tape" #6

In technical preparation for the Metropolitan Opera PBS telecast of Il Trovatore in 1989, portions of the Saturday matinee of January 21st were videotaped. The matinee cast for this "scratch tape" was somewhat different then the telecast, which had been taped the previous October. This performance had Aprile Millo, rather than Eva Marton, as Leonore and Fiorenza Cossotto, rather than Dolora Zajick, as Azucena. In this excerpt, never before shown publicly, the cast sings the conclusion of the opera. James Levine conducts.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Metropolitan Opera
• Millo
• Levine
• Il Trovatore
• Met telecasts
• Pavarotti
• Milnes
• Cossotto

[ploplisphilin]

A great pity MIllo wasn't televised. We have too little of her work in her prime. She really carried on the tradition of Tebaldi with a solid top.

[dimitrovajunkie]

Beautiful ascending pianissimi by Miss Millo here. I wonder why the Met went with Marton instead in the telecast. Millo is such a natural Verdian by comparison. Perhaps Marton had more star power.

[NewJersey5858]

WOWOWOW This is just stupendous. As always, Ms. Millo is just incredible

[metropolitan1966]

Bravo!!! Luciano!!!!

[dimitrovajunkie]

@dimitrovajunkie

On the other hand, I can see why they went with Zajick over Cossotto, who is clearly past her best here. She struggles to get out the final fortissimo phrase.