Verdi: La Traviata -- Domingo/Zeffirelli [2002]

Amazon.co.uk Review

The dream-team combination of Plácido Domingo in the pit with Franco Zeffirelli as set-designer and director pays handsome dividends in this compelling live recording of La Traviata. The 2002 staging is from the intimate Teatro Giuseppe Verdi in the composer's home town of Busseto, a theatre in which promising young performers and players are often given a chance to work with more established artists. But judging from the clear, fresh voices and impressively mature stagecraft skills of both Stefania Bonfadelli and the handsome Scott Piper, they won't need a helping hand for much longer. Piper in particular has a wonderfully full, ringing tone and--heaven be praised!--a sensitive, intelligent pianissimo. Using period costumes, a minimum of props and a few sliding Perspex panels, Zeffirelli creates a handsome, small-scale production and as a director rarely puts a foot wrong--although simply by looking you wouldn't exactly be able to guess how Violetta earns her living. The young orchestra's inexperience shows through occasionally, but Domingo's sensitive accompanying skills (after all, Alfredo is a role he has sung many times himself) compensate for this.

On the DVD: La Traviata is presented in 16:9 ratio, with LPCM Stereo, AC3 Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 sound options. The picture quality is clear without being lustrous, but the small-scale staging never feels too cramped. There is a documentary about the making of the production and the relevance of the town of Busseto in Verdi's life. The opera has subtitles available in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. --Warwick Thompson

Customer Reviews:

Superlative.......2007-11-22

It is difficult to tell the difference between this DVD and a high definition one. The production and the artists are superlative and if that was not all, the camera work sets a very high standard. "Those eyes"! You will see what I mean when you watch it!

Belle Bonfiadelli.......2007-01-07

Stafania Bonfadelli gives us a wonderful Violetta. She is the first I've seen who looks as though she may be ill from the beginning. Scott Piper started a little quietly but very soon gave of his best. A thoroughly enjoyable production altogether. (With Zeffirelli directing and Domingo weilding the baton, could we expect any different.)

great performance.......2005-04-20

A refreshing difference to see Domingo in the pit instead of on the stage. He conducts well and sensitively, though there is non of the antics of his Fledermaus production, when he actually sang a couple of lines while conducting!

But the stars here are of course the two young leads. I've never heard of either but it's clear they will both go far.

The previous review is completely irrelevant to this DVD, and refers instead to another production in which Domingo sings, along with Stratas and Levine at the Met.

another grand Zeffirelli production.......2004-10-07

"La Traviata" is undoubtedly Verdi's loveliest and most romantic opera, with no subplots to detract from the ill-fated love of Violetta and Alfredo, and the melodies are sublime and plentiful.
Though as a rule I prefer a stage production to an "opera film", because the vocals usually have less passion to them, and the lip-synching is often noticeable, "La Traviata" is ideally suited to director Zeffirelli's lavish style of sumptuous ornate sets and beautiful outdoor settings, making this an opera that would be enjoyed by those who are either unfamiliar with, or don't particularly like opera, as well as the aficionados.

Teresa Stratas is a delicate, wonderful Violetta, with her huge eyes and petite stature assets for the part of the ailing heroine, and Placido Domingo, with beard and tousled hair, is fabulous as Alfredo, a part that is surely one of the most naïve and foolish of heroes, but blessed with marvelous music to sing.
James Levine conducts with good pacing, and Cornell MacNeil makes an excellent Papa Germont.
A special treat for ballet fans is the performance by the exquisite Russian ballerina Ekaterina Maximova, and her husband, the great Vladimir Vasiliev, as the Spanish matador dancers; The choreography is by Alberto Testa, and includes Gabriella Borni as the gypsy dancer. This Second Act scene, with the "Noi siamo zingarelle" and "Di Madride noi siam mattadori" is some of the most delightful music in the opera, and it is marvelous to see it danced so well.

The DVD extras are supposed to be: Production notes, Cast/filmmakers' bios, Film highlights, Theatrical trailer, and web links, but my disc did not display options, so was obviously defective; I would have loved to have removed the captions and subtitles, which is also an option, as well as being able to have subtitles in French.
A sublime opera with a terrific cast, this is very satisfying viewing and listening, even for "stage production" fanatics like me. Total playing time is 1 hour and 45 minutes.

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