IL TROVATORE:Verdi
Cleva; Baum, Milanov, Nikolaidi, Warren, Moscona
Original Air Date: 01/16/1954
SID.20100535
This is a little late for Milanov in one of her trademark roles. Her 49 Leonoras are a Met record (Martina Arroyo is number 2 at 29). Still, she definitely has her moments. I find her commercial RCA the most consistent of her Leonoras. Baum is Baum, and his 60 Manricos are second only to Martinelli’s 69. Tenors generally do not stay long with this role with most of the major singers including Caruso hover only around a dozen. This is Nikolaidi’s only Met broadcast (her only other role is Amneris in which she debuted on opening night two seasons earlier). Leonard Warren really owned Luna, so I was somewhat suprised to realize that his 45 Counts ties him for second; Merrill has 73 (!!!!!) and Milnes is not far behind Warren at 37. The high tessitura suits Warren best of all and always worthy of a listen.