Verdi La Traviata (2005)
This DVD of a live 2005 performance from the Zürich Opera under the musical direction of Franz Welser-Möst has many things to recommend it -- the young tenor Piotr Beczala as Alfredo, the marvelous Thomas Hampson as Giorgio Germont, the playing of the Zurich Opera orchestra, the simple but effective sets by by Erich Wonder, the uncluttered stage direction by Jürgen Flimm. It also has some flaws: strangely variable volume level of the recorded sound sometimes coming on so loud as to make one reach for the volume control, and the uneven performance of the Violetta, Eva Mei who, for all her merits, gives a dramatically effective performance marred by occasional difficulties with vocal production. Still, overall I felt this was a moving production, one that I would recommend, although perhaps not as an only DVD of one of Verdi's most popular operas.
Directors: Jürgen Flimm, Felix Breisach.
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Eva Mei as Violetta |
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Piotr Beczała as Alfredo |
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Thomas Hampson as Germont |
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Katharina Peetz as Flora |
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Miroslav Christoff as Gastone |
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Valeriy Murga as Baron Douphol |
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Irène Friedli as Annina |
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Giuseppe Scorsin as Doctor Grenvil |
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Richard Mayr as Marqués D'Obigny |
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Franz Welser-Möst as Conductor |
| Writing | Francesco Maria Piave | Writer |
| Directing | Jürgen Flimm | Director |
| Directing | Felix Breisach | Director |
| Writing | Alexandre Dumas fils | Novel |
| Costume & Make-Up | Florence von Gerkan | Costume Design |
| Art | Erich Wonder | Production Design |
| Sound | Giuseppe Verdi | Music |
