Celebrated Italian tenor Enrico Caruso once famously said that all that was needed for Giuseppe Verdi’s “Il trovatore” to excel were the four greatest singers in the world. Lyric Opera of Chicago might not have fully delivered on that near-impossible formula in the second revival of the company’s 2006-07 co-production of the beloved Italian melodrama, but it came close enough with a dazzling cast of veteran and rising talents.

There were cheers aplenty as each of the four central cast members delivered one thrilling vocal turn after another, with stellar back-up from such supporting singers as bass Roberto Tagliavini, who made a striking Lyric debut as Ferrando, captain of the guard.