Triumphant ‘Trovatore’ From Levine

VERDI: “Il Trovatore.” Placido Domingo, Aprile Millo, Do lora Zajick, Vladimir Cher nov, James Morris, others; forces of Metropolitan Opera, James Levine, conductor. Sony S2K 48070. This latest addition to the Sony/Verdi/Levine series is perhaps the best. Giving the lie to the oom-pah Verdi detractors, the conductor brings out all the color, tension and drama of this often problematic score with an imaginative use of rubato and an instinctive feel for the right accents. In his third Manrico on discs, Domingo has nothing new to say. But the sound is fresh and generally impressive, despite some strain in “Di quella pira.” Millo’s voice often sounds worn, but she still can manage some lovely piano tone and her coloratura in the duet with the Count is well done. The lower voices carry the day. Zajick gives us her whirlwind Azucena, remarkable for its disciplined fire. Chernov’s Luna, reminiscent of Bastianini’s best but with even more color and imagination, proves why he is the leading Verdi baritone of the day. Morris’ Ferrando manages to make the first scene less of a bore than it usually is.

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ANNE SOPHIE VON OTTER: Songs by Richard Strauss, Berg and Korngold. Bengt Forsberg, piano; Deutsche Grammophon 437 515-2. Just when you despaired that with the retirement of Christa Ludwig the tradition of great female Lieder singing was dead, along comes Otter to buoy hopes. This splendid voice is in its youthful prime and the artist shows an intellectual maturity and curiosity, coupled with imagination, which belie her years. The almost erotic calm of “Das Rosenband,” the unexaggerated humor of “Hat gesagtbleibt’s nicht dabei” and the languid legato of “Befreit” are highlights of the Strauss, as is the dark mood of Berg’s “Nacht.” The Korngold songs, as music, may not be up to the other two composers, but they receive as much serious commitment. Forsberg’s inspired piano is inseparable from the mezzo’s velvet vocalization.