Title: This could make you hate this opera
Product review: There is a lot of good intent in this recording but it just doesn't come together. Bonynge's tempi are sluggish and his inclusion of the Paris ballet music exposes the listener to one of Verdi's most atrocious pieces of music - no wonder no other conductor included it. Sutherland, while still in her estimable prime, here sounds hooty and tired. Pavarotti sounds workaday - his adoption of heavy roles like Manrico was beginning to wear away at his voice. Marilyn Horne is totally miscast as Azucena - a heavy-handed, matronly personification. Ingvar Wixell sings Di Luna's music but little else.There were so many other (bel canto)works in which this trio could have shone but Verdi's masterpiece is not for them. There are many fine recordings of this work which demonstrate how gripping and lyrical this piece is. Avoid this one!
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