The Black Dog Opera Library presents Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata. A marriage of music and the written word in the most complete and popularly priced package yet produced, each of these sets includes a complete opera on two Angel/EMI compact discs, accompanied by the complete libretto in its original language and English translation with annotated commentary. Full-color photographs illustrate the history of the operas, and an entertaining text discusses the musical heritage of the composers, the music and the performances.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Language Notes
Text: English, Italian
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
From the Inside Flap
La traviata was intially far from a success-after declaring its 1853 premier a "fiasco," Verdi reworked portions of the first two acts, reopening the work in 1854 to tremendous acclaim. This edition of the piano-vocal score is based on the critical edition of the orchestral score by Fabrizio Della Seta, the first to include original 1853 settings as well as 1854 revisions; this affordable paperback volume, sturdily bound to withstand heavy use, also includes a new English singing translation.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Traviata for the Beginners,
By A Customer
This review is from: La Traviata (Black Dog Opera Library) (Hardcover)
Black Dog editions of famous operas should certainly be welcomed. The presentation is wonderful: there are many pictures of composers and opera productions, a libretto in the original language and English translation help with following the score, and the CDs with music usually have a very good version of the performance. In the case of this Traviata, one gets all this and in addition there are great commentaries about the life of Verdi and the history of La Traviata. But when it comes to the CDs that accompany this book, I have a few misgivings. The version used (with Sills and Gedda) would not be my first choice. Both of the principals are somewhat past their prime, and despite their wonderful characterizations, the singing abounds in shrill and inaccurately pitched high notes. The conducting is also too fast and loud for my taste. So I would definitely recommend this book to an opera beginner, as this will make a great introduction to one of the most beloved operas. But if you are already an experienced Verdian, and are looking for another version of La Traviata, I would rather suggest getting either Callas' or Cotrubas' recordings.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Introduction To Opera And Beverly Sills,
By Rachel Garret (Beverly Hills) - See all my reviews
This review is from: La Traviata (Black Dog Opera Library) (Hardcover)
The 2 reviews for this particular product are mixed. One reviewer is clearly in love with the quality of the recording and talents of the singers and the other says that this La Traviata is not his first choice. When you have Beverly Sills as an opera heroine, that should always be your first choice, unless you try the rest and finally decide to hear the best. This is without argument the best La Traviata recording and there are so many reasons for this conclusion. First of all, Black Dog Opera Library series has great performances of opera captured on quality sound and full of illustrated pages profiling the life of the composer and historic background of the opera, as well as a bio on the singers. The libretto is precise and embellished with notes on key moments (arias, ensembles, etc) of the opera.Beverly Sills (Violetta) has sung the role 54 times in the course of 63 days. She is equally as powerful an actress as she is a singer, at paar with her contemporary of the 60's, Maria Callas. In this recording (1971) her voice is still a fine instrument, and she conveys a broad range of artistic value. In the first act, the party act in which she first meets Alfredo (Nicolai Gedda in excellent vocal character), she is bubbly and appropriately festive (she even laughs) and provides us with an operetta-like charm. Her tour de force scene comes at the end of the first act, from the melodious way she sings "A Fors E Lui" to the coloratura showpiece, "Sempre Libera", which she ends with an E flat over a high C. In her Act 2 duet with Germont (apty sung by Rolando Panerai) she moves us with her suffering pathos in her lines "Ditte A La Giovine", "Morro La Mia Memoria" and her farewell to Alfredo "Amami Alfredo". In the confrontation scene where she belts out a tense "Invitato A Qui Seguirmi", and the ensuing "Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core" are all fine moments for Beverly Sills, her voice even rising above the chorus ensemble at the end. Her final scenes, from "Addio Del Passato" to the last breath she takes, is remarkable. This recording is just one of two recordings with the same group- the John Alldys Choir, Aldo Ceccato conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the singers- Beverly Sills, Nicolai Gedda and Rolando Panerai. Either of these two recordings are great introduction to opera for novices and the art of Beverly Sills. Look no further if you want a great recording of the most intimate and romantic opera that Verdi ever composed. It is a story of love, a portrait of a woman who gives up her glamorous Parisian lifestyle as a courtesan and sacrifices even her own happiness for the man she loves. It is safe to say that this is the most romantic opera, full of rich melody and great acting. At the hands of the right performers, it's a memorable experience.
5.0 out of 5 stars
TRAVIATA VOCAL SCORE,
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This review is from: La Traviata: Vocal Score (Paperback)
WONDERFUL. JUST WHAT I WANTED! QUICK DELIVERY........I LOVE IT. I BOUGHT A CD AND SING ALONG WITH IT. THANKS AMAZON FOR HAVING EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED AND FOR YOUR EFFIENCY IN DELIVERY!
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