Verdi: Il Trovatore.(Opera Review)

VERDI: Il Trovatore

Villarroel, Zaremba, Calderone; Bocelli, Guelfi, Colombara; Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania, Mercurio. Text and translation. Decca B0002629-02 (2)

If the Verdi for Dummies-level liner notes are any indication, Decca expects listeners to its new Il Trovatore to be apprehensive neophytes. The opera's "many memorable highlights" are obligingly pointed out, and only these tracks receive English translation in the booklet. (A full libretto in four languages can be viewed or printed by inserting CD1 into your computer's drive, but there is no way to listen simultaneously.)

Could the casting of a popular crossover performer in the title role explain such hand-holding through one of the world's most user-friendly operas? Didn't his fans already survive two other entry-level works, La Boheme and Tosca?

To its credit, Decca has tried to assemble a Trovatore in the bel canto tradition. The score is performed in its entirety, allowing double cabalettas and extended codas not often heard. The conductor, Steven Mercurio, demands attention to dynamics, rhythmic accuracy and proper word accents, which makes the choral contributions especially effective. The principal voices are beautiful and distinctive, and (with one exception) they bring life to Verdi's expansive lines and ornamental details by using the composer's expressive marks and a range of vocal colors to highlight characterization.

Carlo Colombara sets the tone for the entire opera by taking the time to narrate Ferrando's tale with increasing drama and horror. Carlo Guelfi brings plenty of macho snarl to di Luna's music, and he sculpts "Il balen" handsomely, in spite of some odd rallentandos from Mercurio.

Veronica Villarroel's idiosyncratic voice has just the right combination of delicacy and steel for the role of Leonora, and the extensive range seems well within her compass. Villarroel makes the most of small moments such as "Degg'io volgermi a quel" and the recitative ("Timor di me?") before her poised and tranquil "D'amor sull'ali rosee" and its complete cabaletta, "Tu vedrai ch'amore in terra." As in the cabaletta to "Tacea la ...