Il trovatore

The gypsy Azucena (Fiorenza Cossotto) seeks revenge for her mother, who was accused of placing a curse on one of the old Count di Luna's two sons. She resolves to abduct the younger child and cast it into the flames. However, at the moment she is about to carry out this act, Azucena sacrifices her own child and instead takes the Count's son, whom she names Manrico (IL TROVATORE, Plácido Domingo). As adults, the troubadour Manrico and the Count di Luna's elder son (Piero Cappuccilli) are unaware of their connection but become rivals for the affection of the beautiful Leonora (Raina Kabaivanska). Manrico wins Leonora's heart, and she sacrifices herself for him, deceiving the Count's son. Overcome by jealousy, the Count's son orders Manrico's execution in front of his mother. Azucena then reveals to him that Manrico was his brother. This legendary performance of Giuseppe Verdi's most successful opera was recorded at the Vienna State Opera under the baton of Herbert von Karajan.