Customer Reviews

Verdi: La Traviata - Los Angeles Opera Orchestra & Chorus [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I liked this so much in DVD that I purchased the blu-ray to see what difference I would notice. Amazing that not only was the picture more life-like, less granular, but the sound was smoother, more mellow, seamless as well! Another reviewer complained about being "tacky" not up to MET standards. I don't know what version that person was looking at, but for starters, this was L.A. Opera, not the MET and the production is full-fledged opulent! The singing, acting and direction was so dramatic, real, involving that I was very quickly off analyzing, evaluating, reviewing and just into total immersion, enjoyment. This is an iconic production for the ages. Opera doesn't get better than this! Quite possibly the most technically perfect, involving production of one of the handful of all-time great operas!

"La Traviata" is the first opera that I became familiar with and has remained a favourite ever since. I guess I have more copies of this work on audio and video than any other work and this one tops them all. A luscious, traditional production with beautiful costumes and featuring the superb singing of Renee Fleming, Rolando Villazon and Renato Bruson, it is difficult to imagine anything better will ever emerge. Renee is lovely to look at and the passion that she and Rolando evoke is very moving and convincingly projected with first rate recording of audio and video. The second Act can sometimes be a bit relatively flat but not here. Renato Bruson portrays Germon with dignity and conviction with Rolando putting more passion into throughout the opera than I have seen from anyone. He surpasses his efforts seen in the other Blu Ray production featuring Netrebco. This disc is a must for all opera lovers and cannot be more highly recommended. It is one of the best in this collection.

The region code listed above is incorrect. It is a Region Code 0 disk and plays fine on US Blu-ray players.

By now, I think I own all or nearly all of the filmed Traviatas, and would someday like to say that I have the definitive production in my collection. Alas, after viewing this Los Angeles Opera production, I have to admit that my search must go on, BUT, this production came close. First of all, it was a traditional staging, which does not appeal to those who want their operas to be like Startrek - "to go where no one has gone before". To that mind-set, the Willie Decker production starring Villazon and Netrebko is more appealing. This reviewer has seen so many failures - "Euro Trash" - that I prefer traditional, thank you. What makes this production outstanding is the fine singing by the protagonists. All of the principals are very believable in their roles, not only because they can act and emote, but because they look the ages they represent on stage. Yes, Fleming is older than Villazon, but did anyone notice? She is eternally young when she sings and can justifiably claim to be the top American soprano of this age. Bravo Villazon! Along with the "new breed" of tenors - Juan Diego Florez, Jonas Kaufmann, and Ramon Vargas to name a few - Villazon gives us opera lovers optimism that all is well in tenor world despite the passing of Pavarotti, the vocal decline of Carreras, and the thickening of Domingo's tenor voice to the point that he thinks it necessary to assume baritone roles. The Los Angeles Opera Orchestra conducted by James Conlin created glorious music superbly recorded by Decca in the bluray disc, which also makes the viewer appreciate all the more the period stage sets. So, why is this one not the definitive production? I can not put my finger on it! Perhaps it's because I prefer, like all romantics and knights, to be on the quest. But again, this Traviata came close to ending my quest and I highly recommend it to lovers of great opera and Giuseppe Verdi's music.

The good news is that the music is fabulous. Fleming and Villazon produce glorious singing, and acting, and in many ways definitive. This is great, effortless singing. Bruson is also excellent as Germont pere. What disappointed me however were the production values. This is not up the the standard of the Met or Covent Garden. From the un-ironed white sheet tacked up behind the conductor, to the cane furniture, foam rubber cushions, and generally tacky set dressing, this was only a notch or two above an amateur production. Blu-ray quality is terrific, as we now expect. But I would love to see these two in a better production.