IL TROVATORE
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
IL TROVATORE
Wiener Staatsoper, 1978
Soloists: Plácido Domingo (Manrico), Piero Cappuccilli (Il conte di Luna), Raina Kabaivanska (Leonora), Fiorenza Cossotto (Azucena), José van Dam (Ferrando), Salvatore Cammarano (Libretto), Leone Emanuele Bardare (Libretto)
Orchestra, Chorus: Orchestra and Chorus of the Vienna State Opera
Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
Director: Herbert von Karajan

This 1978 performance is steeped in scandal. Franco Bonisolli was originally cast in the lead role but abandoned the cast during a rehearsal where the public had been admitted entry, and, after throwing his sword at the conductor, left the stage in fury, to be later replaced by Plácido Domingo.
What this performance makes so special: Karajan not only conducted the opera, but he was also responsible for the stage direction.




