Rating: 
Summary: Cold interpretation and staging
Review: Although an opera lover, I have never been a big Traviata fan. This production did not help. The decor is cold, and the acting only decent. I much prefer the Zeffirelli (film) version (cond. Levine).
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant
Review: Angela Gheorghiu is absolutely phenomenal. I fell in love with this woman upon watching this performance. Her ability is simply stratospheric. It's hard to fathom what the reviewer from Milan was thinking. He appears to have been viewing this disc through some sort of psychedelic lens and subsequently written his review under the intoxication of a bizarre personal vendetta. I may be going to the other extreme here, but I think you'll agree with my assessment of Gheorghiu. As for the set, I believe that it's actually superior to those of Zefferelli's in, for example, La Boheme and Tosca. That's saying a lot. The direction is excellent as well. While not as magnetic as a Placido Domingo, Frank Lopardo is very effective in the role of Alfredo. Solti conducts beautifully. But the real star is Angela Gheorghiu. I can't say enough good things about her....
Rating:
Summary: SUPER BRAVOS
Review: Angela Gheorghiu is fantastic. She has a fantastic voice. She is beautiful. She is a great actress. In the lavish setting of this performance, and along with a really spectacular cast, Angela is the heart of the show. Verdi, who was pretty picky when it came to singers for his operas, would be jumping for joy with the whole cast in this production.
Rating: 
Summary: Angela Gheorghiu en su mejor interpretacion
Review: Este dvd tiene su razon de ser en la interpretacion de Violetta Valery que brinda ANGELA GHEORGHIU. En estas funciones de 1994 la soprano rumana, entonces desconocida, asumio este papel en el Covent Garden bajo la direccion de SIR GEROG SOLTI (que es referencial por cierto) y el exito fue brutal: No es de extrañar, ya que a sus geniales medios vocales (voz bella, coloratura facil, piani, fiato....) se une una presencia como actriz con una extraordinaria capacidad para transmitir y emocionar: Su Acto III es realmente de antologia.
Lastima que todo lo demas no este a la altura. El Alfredo de FRANK LOPARDO posee una voz baritonal poco interesante, y esta algo forzado como actor, y el Germont de LEO NUCCI (que en principio deberia de ser de gran calidad) no tiene vocalmente su mejor dia. Competentes (nada mas) los secundarios.
La puesta en escena es bastante tradicional, correcta en conjunto, pero a mi personalmente solo me convence plenamente en el ultimo acto.
Pero pese a todo esto, Angela Gheorghiu y Georg Solti elevan el nivel del espectaculo hasta crear un bello documento que merece sin duda ser visto: Un gran director presentando a una gran estrella. No se lo pierdan.
Rating:
Summary: A fine looking cast and a complete performance
Review: First of all let me say that I can't think of anything that is bad about this DVD. The performance is of a high quality, the production is fairly traditional and enjoyable, the video and sound quality are top notch (although it's not widescreen). I gave it an extra fifth star for being as complete as it is. Even Alfredo's second act cabaletta is repeated, when many performances cut the whole thing. Gheorghiu is very attractive, which is important in this work, I think. Why would Alfredo fall for a dog? Lopardo is good and without as much of the tendency to sharp notes as I have heard from his other recordings and live performances. Nucci is up to his usual standard, and if you like his timbre (somewhat on the nasal side) you will enjoy his portrayal. Solti's conducting is solid. A thouroughly enjoyable set. I sold my CD set taken from these performances to get the DVD. Totally worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Gheorghiu is amazing
Review: Holy moley! I thought the praise on the DVD box was too effusive, too uncritical, too much marketing hype. Now I'm a believer. This is just about as perfect a performance as you could ever ask for. Regardless of what you may think or know of her (well-publicized) offstage behavior, Angela Gheorghiu is simply beyond reproach in this live video. She looks like the ideal Violetta, her acting is very moving, and best of all, she sings the part as it was meant to be sung -- musically, dramatically, thrillingly. She judges her dynamics perfectly, never singing too loud -- she projects even the softest of pianissimos over the orchestra -- but she can really rip out the high notes when called for. Her coloratura is flawless, and yet it never sticks out like a mere technical show (as with some singers) -- when she sings it, it's an integral part of the drama of the moment. She sings the lyrical, legato passages with a genuine sense of line, but she also sings the whole with just the right amount of declamation. Her voice is very pleasing to the ear, yet distinctive and instantly recognizable. Now I can finally understand why people went nuts over Maria Callas 40-50 years ago. I'll probably get some grief for making this comparison, as I'm a Callas ignoramus, but I imagine that this performance by Gheorghiu must be like what Callas's performances used to be like -- perfect singing, perfect acting, and perfect *integration* of singing and acting.Everyone else on this video is pretty good, too. In fact, Solti is (was) great -- his conducting is exciting and his tempos are, on the whole, well judged. Frank Lopardo is a solid Alfredo, and Leo Nucci a somewhat bland but decent Germont -- and like Gheorghiu, they each totally look the part. The sound and picture quality are both very good. The only thing that maddens me is that it took Decca so ridiculously long (almost 7 years) to release this video in the United States. (I think it was available in other countries on VHS.) Well, at any rate, it's here now, so what are you waiting for? Get it!
Rating:
Summary: PERFECTION
Review: I am not a big fan of Traviata, but I am of this DVD. Angela's singing and acting is incredible. From the very start, she lays out the character. She is the finest singing actress I have ever seen. The whole production is fresh including the sets and staging. The direction is innovative and I felt that the director wasn't relying on the old tried and true ways of handling this story. I found myself pulled into each character on the stage. I even got pulled into the character of Violetta's maid, Annina. Can you belive that! She has about five lines if that much, but what the director does for her and each character is perfection. This is a great ensemble show with great performances from each singer. You will not be disappointed. I will watch it over and over and over!!!
Rating:
Summary: PERFECTION
Review: I am not a big fan of Traviata, but I am of this DVD. Angela's singing and acting is incredible. From the very start, she lays out the character. She is the finest singing actress I have ever seen. The whole production is fresh including the sets and staging. The direction is innovative and I felt that the director wasn't relying on the old tried and true ways of handling this story. I found myself pulled into each character on the stage. I even got pulled into the character of Violetta's maid, Annina. Can you belive that! She has about five lines if that much, but what the director does for her and each character is perfection. This is a great ensemble show with great performances from each singer. You will not be disappointed. I will watch it over and over and over!!!
Rating:
Summary: The best LIVE "Traviata" you will ever see
Review: I am shocked! I have watched and listened to hundreds of "Traviata"-s in my life, but I never imagined that I would be so moved with yet another outstanding recording. This is amazing. Angela Gheorghiu is brilliant - she shows everything: radiance, fun, passion, love, drama, despare. She is the most perfect Violetta of our time. Well, she doesn't sing high E flat at the end of the I Act but who cares? Look at her - she has stunning looks and one of the most warmest and beautiful voices I've ever heard. If one takes into consideration the fact that this was her operatic debut, everything I just mentioned is even more unbelievable. Alongside Gheorghiu is the very strong supporting cast: Leo Nucci is one of my favourite baritones and he is at his best. Nothing seems difficult to him, its amazing. Lopardo (Alfredo) has very strong voice, mostly his singing is very good, however at some places I would rather here warmer sound, I would rather believe him more. And finally, Georg Solti's conducting is great, the orchestra and the chorus is like one, every single detail is worked out and syncronized. So at the end, I should say this is must have DVD. This is Gheorghiu's triumph, this is her night and it is amazing watching her and sharing this precious moment with her.
Rating:
Summary: The best LIVE "Traviata" you will ever see
Review: I am shocked! I have watched and listened to hundreds of "Traviata"-s in my life, but I never imagined that I would be so moved with yet another outstanding recording. This is amazing. Angela Gheorghiu is brilliant - she shows everything: radiance, fun, passion, love, drama, despare. She is the most perfect Violetta of our time. Well, she doesn't sing high E flat at the end of the I Act but who cares? Look at her - she has stunning looks and one of the most warmest and beautiful voices I've ever heard. If one takes into consideration the fact that this was her operatic debut, everything I just mentioned is even more unbelievable. Alongside Gheorghiu is the very strong supporting cast: Leo Nucci is one of my favourite baritones and he is at his best. Nothing seems difficult to him, its amazing. Lopardo (Alfredo) has very strong voice, mostly his singing is very good, however at some places I would rather here warmer sound, I would rather believe him more. And finally, Georg Solti's conducting is great, the orchestra and the chorus is like one, every single detail is worked out and syncronized. So at the end, I should say this is must have DVD. This is Gheorghiu's triumph, this is her night and it is amazing watching her and sharing this precious moment with her.
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