I attended the first night of Elijah Moshinsky’s new production last spring, when the singers looked distinctly uncomfortable in a poorly designed staging. This DVD was recorded later in the run, by which time things had marginally improved, or it may be that the faults of a cumbersome production seem less heinous when the cameras have to concentrate mainly on the principals. On this occasion they seem to be acting and reacting to each other to more truthful effect than was previously the case.

Much of the singing is frankly second-rate. José Cura’s visually macho and magnetic Manrico is vitiated by his sloppy and often over-accented singing – a pity that such promising material has never been harnessed to some sense of Verdian style. Veronica Villarroel, though singing more smoothly than on the first night, still seems to lack the tone and technique to do full justice to Leonora’s taxing music.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky is an imposing Luna who sings ‘Il balen’ warmly and passionately on a long breath. He certainly has the wherewithal for his part, but sometimes one feels that a release from double-forte singing would be welcome. The newcomer to the Royal Opera, Swiss mezzo Yvonne Naef, offers easily the most convincing characterisation, allowing one to believe in all Azucena’s confusions, hates and loves, and her singing demonstrates a belief in what she is singing. The Ferrando is inadequate: an unsteady bass is the last thing one wants to launch the opera.

Carlo Rizzi’s conducting is lacklustre, wanting the energetic pulse essential in this work. Brian Large’s video direction is as expert as ever. There are added features on the characters, design and duelling – the staging has some entirely unconvincing fights and military demonstrations for the soldiers. Once more a DVD booklet has wholly inadequate or false information: all the smaller roles are omitted from the cast list and the track listing bears no resemblance to what we get on the disc itself. Is there no one these days in charge of quality control in the issuing companies? All-round the alternative Moshinsky production I reviewed in the Awards issue is to be preferred.