Stars: Edita Gruberova, Giorgio Zancanaro, Neil Shicoff, Carlo Rizzi

Director: Derek Bailey

Summary: This famous work was recorded at the Gran Teatro, La Fenice in Venice, one of the most famous and beautiful venues in all opera. The theatre has been the scene for first nights for Rossini, Bellini, Verdi and more.

Carlo Rizzi conducts the Orchestra of the Teatro La Fenice in this dynamic performance of Verdi's three-act opera

WIN DVDs by rating this DVD

Average User Rating:

WIN DVDS by being amongst the first to review this DVD. Reviewing DVDs earns you bonus entries and lets you WIN DVDs!Please login before reviewing this DVD. If you're a new user, register for free and enter to WIN FREE DVDs!

This performance of Verdi's La Traviata comes from the Gran Teatro La Fenice, Venice in 1992. The intimacy and social realism of the story make it one of the most dramatically successful of all operas, while the score contains some of the finest music of the 19th century. Despite the strong production values and well-staged party scenes, any production of La Traviata stands or falls on the performers in the vital roles of the lovers Violetta and Alfredo, and that of Alfredo's father, Giorgio. Here Giorgio Zancanaro is suitably decent and morally serious as Giorgio, and Neil Shicoff makes a strong impression as an ordinary man suddenly overwhelmed by love. The drawback is that--and there is no polite way to say this--Edita Gruberova is not only too old to play the sparkling young society girl, Violetta, but she is a much better singer than she is an actress. She comes into her own in the tragic last act, but is otherwise awkward and uncomfortable when the part requires her to demonstrate confidence and sensuality. This remains a production with considerable merits, but overall a more dramatically, not to say visually, compelling version is that originally broadcast world-wide live from Paris in 2000 starring Eteri Gvazava and José Cura.

On the DVD: The production is presented at 4:3 with above average picture quality for a live opera DVD, and with excellent PCM stereo sound. The disc and booklet both offer a synopsis, but other than the option to watch with or without subtitles there are no special features. --Gary S. Dalkin

Aspect Ratio:	4:3 Full Frame
Main Language:	Italian
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Cast And Character Screens, On Screen Synopsis, Chapter Selector Screens
Subtitles:	English, French, German, Spanish
Year:	1992
Release Date:	April 10, 2000
Runtime:	130 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	4509 92409 2
Keywords:	Music, Opera, Traviata, Classical, La, Performing, Choral, Operetta, Vocal, Arts
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts