Recorded by Columbia in 1930, the Naxos issue offers a lustily red-blooded reading typical of Italian performances at that period dominated by verismo. As Leonora Biance Scacciati has a distinctive timbre, slightly throaty. She is occasionally gusty in her production, but technically secure beyond what one can expect in latterday recordings. Similarly Fancesco Merli, a tenor much-admired by Toscanini with his baritonal timbre is a strong and satisfying Manrico. Enrico Molinari is a reliable Count, sounding a little old at times, and Giuseppina Zineti is a fruitily resonant Azucena, rich and firm throughout her register. The performance under Lorenzo Molajoli is lusty and red-blooded to match, and is exceptionally well-transferred by Ward Marston, marrying 78 r.p.m. pressing from different sources. The usual cuts of the period are observed, which leaves room for a supplement of fine recordings by Scacciati, four of the five with Merli as well, including rare items from Marchetti’s Ruy Blas, Gomes’s Guarany and Catalani’s Loreley, as well as the Trio from verdi’s I Lombardi, all very well sung.