"Il trovatore" was premiered with triumphant success in 1853 at the Teatro Apollo in Rome and is Giuseppe Verdi’s (1813-1901) second opera from the so-called "trilogia popolare" ("Rigoletto" / "Il trovatore" / "La traviata").
The plot is set in medieval Spain and is based on the play "El trovador" by Antonio Garcìa Gutiérrez. The libretto, which remained fragmentary due to the unexpected death of Salvadore Cammarano, was completed by Leone Emmanuele Bardare. Although this circumstance causes the plot to have breaks and flaws, Verdi composed splendidly melodious arias for his protagonists Manrico (= il trovatore) and Leonore that are among the most beautiful in his repertoire.
Overall, the instrumentation within the trilogia reaches an extremely high artistic level, which is expressed particularly clearly in the musical characterization of the multi-layered characters. Thus the dark character of Azucena is transformed from a vengefully tormented one into a loving mother who sings with the most tender and heartfelt feelings about her son who was mistakenly sacrificed. Rich in somber soundscapes and extreme contrasts, this dramma lirico, whose main motif is revenge, is now regularly performed at all major opera houses.