Jussi Björling's Golden Trovatore HDTT15789

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This project was sponsored by the Jussi Björling Society, USA https://jussibjorlingsociety.org

Read the Music Web International Review by Göran Forsling

We can now hear this classic recording of Verdi’s Il Trovatore in far clearer and more brilliant sound than ever before, providing a completely new perspective on this legendary 1952 RCA recording. This new high-resolution remastering is sourced from rare, previously unplayed British HMV monophonic commercial reel-to-reel tapes that were obviously generationally close to the master tape. It is questionable if the original RCA master tapes exist at this point, as it appears that Sony, and before it, BMG, never released a digital reissue based directly upon it.
This celebrated recording will undoubtedly be on every knowledgeable opera lover’s list of the greatest recordings of this opera, often at or near the top. The combination of five seasoned performers who inhabit their roles with a superior level of suitability, musical authority, and vocal glory is a big factor, but one cannot overlook the fact that the “greatest among equals” in this regard is Björling’s matchless Manrico, in his only commercial recording of one of his greatest roles. Björling’s combination of youthfulness, vocal power, lyrical phrasing, and sheer beauty of tone, combined with the highest level of artistry, makes him arguably the best-equipped tenor for this role that we can find on recordings.
Soprano Zinka Milanov herself called this Trovatore the best of her recordings (Harris, Opera Recordings, Drake Publishers, Inc., 1973, New York, p. 300). Fedora Barbieri’s Azucena is one for the ages, and the subtlety that Leonard Warren brings to the role of Di Luna makes for what is probably the most chilling portrayal of this villainous character on records, rivaled only by his other recordings of it.
As a bonus track, we have included a restorer’s fantasy, a recreation combining Jussi Björling and Maria Callas in a “live” excerpt beginning with the “Miserere” and continuing to the end of that scene, with the goal of placing the singers in the same sonic space. Though inspired by the long-lost live recording of the 1955 Chicago performance starring these two great performers in their only appearance together, this bonus track is not from that performance. It is hoped that this fantasy will be enjoyed in the spirit of fun in which it is offered.

Artist(s): RCA Victor Orchestra and Robert Shaw Chorale,
Renato Cellini, Conductor
Manrico: Jussi Björling, Tenor
Leonora: Zinka Milanov, Soprano
Azucena: Fedora Barbieri, Mezzo-soprano
Count di Luna: Leonard Warren, Baritone
Ferrando: Nicola Moscona, Bass
Inez: Margaret Roggero, Mezzo-soprano
Ruiz: Paul Franke, Tenor
Recording Info:
Recorded by RCA February 21-March 16, 1952 at Manhattan Center, New York City; Richard Mohr, Producer; Lewis Layton, Recording Engineer.
Transfer of mono two-track tapes by Robert Witrak, Chief Engineer, HDTT (2023), at DSD256 resolution, using a modified Studer 810 tape deck feeding a Merrill Tape Preamp.
Restoration by John H. Haley, Harmony Restorations LLC (2023).
Digital: Merging Hapi Analog to Digital Converter clocked by an Antelope Audio 10MX Atomic Clock; Power Conditioning: Shunyata Research Everest 8000 for all components; All components grounded to Shunyata ALTAIRA Hubs

Track List:

01. Act I (The Duel). All’erta, all’erta! (2:58)

02. Di due figli vivea (7:03)

03. Che più t’arresti? (2:39)

04. Tacea la notte placida (4:15)

05. Di tale amor che dirsi (1:35)

06. Tace la notte! (1:55)

07. Deserto sulla terra (1:39)

08. Non m’inganno (1:59)

09. Di geloso amor sprezzato (2:25)

10. Act II (The Gypsy). Vedi! Le fosche notturne spoglie (2:45)

11. Stride la vampa! (4:42)

12. Soli or siamo (0:55)

13. Condotta ell’era in ceppi (4:34)

14. Non son tuo figlio? (2:31)

15. Mal reggendo (3:20)

16. Inoltra il piè (0:53)

17. Perigliarti ancor languente (1:50)

18. Tutto è deserto (1:29)

19. Il balen del suo sorriso (3:17)

20. Quel suono! Oh, ciel! (:46)

21. Per me ora fatale (1:55)

22. Ah! Se l’error t’ingombra (1:59)

23. Perchè piangete? (2:15)

24. E deggio e posso crederlo? (3:53)

25. Act III (The Gypsy’s Son). Or co’ dadi (1:58)

26. Squilli, echeggi la tromba guerriera (2:25)

27. In braccio al mio rival! (6:51)

28. Quale d’armi fragor poc’anzi intesi? (2:10)

29. Ah, si, ben mio (2:49)

30. L’onda de’ suoni mistici (1:34)

31. Di quella pira (2:09)

32. Act IV (The Ordeal). Siam giunti (2:55)

33. D’amor sull’ali rosee (3:45)

34. Miserere d’un’alma già vicina (4:28)

35. Udiste? (1:41)

36. Mira, di acerbe lagrime (3:21)

37. Vivra! Contende il giubilo (2:09)

38. Madre, non dormi? (6:20)

39. Ai nostri monti (2:13)

40. Che! Non m’inganno (8:51)

41. An Audio Restorer’s Fantasy: Il trovatore:
“Miserere d’un’alma già vicina,” a recreation
featuring Maria Callas and Jussi Björling (see booklet notes) (4:51)

Please Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master
then the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using
Merging Technologies Album Publishing.
DXD (352.8KHz 24/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings

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