…Anna Pirozzi as Leonora and Enkelejda Shkosa as Azucena. Pirozzi has a powerful voice, especially in her middle and lower registers. Not that her high notes lack power—try any of her arias. Her Tacea la notte placida is brilliantly sung, for example, with high notes soaring robustly to the heavens. The ensuing though brief Di tale amor che dirsi shows her remarkable agility and strong technique. Shkosa delivers a very effective and subtle Stride la vampa!, and she is consistently strong throughout, both vocally and dramatically. Her ensemble numbers are always impressive: for just one example, try her duet with Manrico, Mal reggendo all’aspro assalto. The other singers in the cast are quite good too, if not standouts. In the end, one can happily conclude there isn’t a weak link in this chain of mostly little known singers.

Conductor Daniel Oren, surely not little known and one of the finest interpreters of Verdi and Puccini operas before the public today, draws spirited playing from the orchestra and shapes the score with a deft sense for the story’s drama and for Verdi’s unique style. I’ve reviewed many of Oren’s performances…and I have yet found one of them to be less than utterly brilliant and compelling. He possesses the best known name attached to this performance, but he should be even better known. © 2018 Classical Net Read complete review

The central character of the nobleman Conte di Luna is capably sung by Sardinian baritone Marco Caria. …Sardinian tenor Piero Pretti makes his mark as the army officer Manrico, who doubles as a troubadour. Putting his heart and soul into the part Pretti displays his bright voice to engaging effect despite strain in his high register. Manrico’s much loved cabaletta ‘Di quella pira’, declaring how he and his men will save Azucena from death, is well sung if rather lacking in the ringing, heroic quantity the finest tenors provide. Ferrando, the Count’s officer, is taken by Italian bass Alessandro Spina who is endowed with considerable stage presence and adds enthusiasm and a touch of flamboyance to the role.

Under Daniel Oren’s enthusiastic direction, the support from Fondazione Orchestra Regionale delle Marche does justice to Verdi’s writing. Singing winningly, the Coro Lirico Marchigiano Vincenzo Bellini has clearly been well coached by chorus master Carlo Morganti. The famous Anvil and Soldiers’ Choruses are splendidly given, with rhythm and enthusiasm… © 2018 MusicWeb International Read complete review