Franco Corelli and Leontyne Price were in their primes in this February 4, 1961 broadcast of this 1853 opera, still frequently sung. Synopsis: Spain is torn apart by Civil War. Act 1. Count di Luna, commander of Royalist Aragon troops, is obsessed with Leonora, a young noblewoman. An unknown troubadour has been serenading her, and the jealous count longs to capture him. The troops’ captain, Ferrando, tells them of a gypsy woman burned at the stake for bewitching the count’s infant brother; her daughter took revenge by kidnapping the infant and – so the story goes – throwing him into the same fire. The count hopes the bones were not his brother’s and wants to find this daughter. In the gardens, Leonora confesses her love for the troubadour. As she hears his song from the castle, she rushes to the garden, but is seized by di Luna. The troubadour reveals that he is Manrico, leader of the partisan rebels, and the count challenges him to a duel to the death. Act 2. In the duel, Manrico lets the count live. In battles with Royalists, Manrico is seriously wounded, but is dragged to a mountain camp by his mother, the gypsy Azucena, who is the revenging daughter. She reveals that she threw her own son into the fire, and Manrico wonders who he really is, which Azucena won’t reveal. Leonora, believing Manrico died in battle, enters a convent; he rescues her from the convent and from di Luca before she takes vows. Act 3. Di Luca corners them in a castle and also captures Azucena, whom he threatens to burn unless Manrico and Leonora surrender. Manrico prepares his men for battle. Act 4. Di Luna defeats Manrico’s army, captures him and condemns him to death. Leonora offers herself to the count in return for Manrico’s life, but secretly takes a slow-acting poison to cheat him. Manrico tries to comfort Azucena. Leonora rushes in to tell him he is saved, but he realizes what she has done and furiously denounces her, refusing di Luna’s mercy. She dies in his arms. Di Luna sends Manrico to his execution. Azucena cries out that her mother is avenged: di Luna has killed his own brother.

1. CD1. Act 1. All'Erta! All'Erta! 2:59
2. - Di Due Figli Vivea Padre Beato...Abbietta Zingara 4:06
3. - E Il Padre? Brevi E Tristi Giorni Visse 3:16
4. - Che Più T'Arresti? 2:14
5. - Tacea La Notte Placida 4:25
6. - Di Tale Amor 1:53
7. - Tace La Notte Placida! Deserto Sulla Terra 3:26
8. - Anima Mia! Ah! Dalle Tenebre 1:49
9. - Di Geloso Amor Sprezzato 2:32
10. – Act 2. Vedi! Le Fosche Notturne (Anvil Chorus) 2:44
11. - Stride La Vampa! 4:58
12. - Soli Or Siamo! 0:52
13. - Condotta Ell'Era In Ceppi 4:54
14. - Non Son Tuo Figlio? 2:30
15. - Mal Reggendo All'Aspro Assalto 4:32
16. - Perigliarti Ancor Laguente 1:55
17. - Tutto È Deserto 1:31
18. - Il Balen Del Suo Sorriso 3:04
19. - Qual Suono! Per Me Ora Fatale 2:35
20. - Ah! Se L'Error T'Ingombra 2:20
21. - Perchè Piangete? 2:32
22. - E Deggio E Posso Oredelo? 4:13


23. CD2. Act 3. Or Co' Dadi, Ma Fra Poco 4:21
24. - In Braccio Al Mio Rival! 2:08
25. - Giorni Poveri Vivea 2:51
26. - Deh! Rallentate, O Barbari 1:58
27. - Quale D'Armi Fragor 2:12
28. - Ah! Sì, Ben Mio 3:58
29. - L'Onda De'suoni Mistici 1:45
30. - Di Quella Pira 2:27
31. Act 4. - Siam Guinti 3:05
32. - D'Amor Sull'Ali Rosee 4:55
33. - Miserere D'Un Alma Già Vicina, Tu Vedrai Che Amore In Terra 5:00
34. - Udite? Come Albeggi, La Scure Al Figlio 1:45
35. - Mira, Di Acerbe Lagrime, Vivrà! Contende Il Giubilo 5:23
36. - Madre, Non Dormi? 5:17
37. - Sì, La Stanchezza, M'Opprime, O Figlio, Ai Nostri Monti 3:26
38. - Che! Non M'Inganna Quel Fioco Lume? 1:29
39. - Ha Quest'Infame L'Amo 2:33
40. - Ti Scosta! Prima Che D'Altri Vivere 4:55