Customer Reviews

Verdi: La Traviata

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

 

 

I find quite a few novice reviewers weighing in here. To denigrate a major artist like Pavarotti or Studer in favor of the workmanlike Juan Pons--a pet baritone of Levien's at the Met who won neither renown nor critical admiration anywhere else--is silly. The real question is how a fine La Traviata with great singers and a major conductor fits into the overall picture of this oprea on disc.

The classic 1950s versions with Callas, form Lisbon and La Scala on EMi, are in antiquated radio air checks with a dreadful orchestra in the Lisbon case, matched by a very feeble Germont in Sereni and an intrusive stage prompter talking over the singers. La Scala has a better cast but many defects in the sound, including dorpouts into near unintelligibility. In both cases the whole show is Callas, although Giulini is a major asset on the La Scala version, and some critics hail Kraus in the Lisbon set.

Among modern recordings we have one outright winner, the Kleiber performance on DG with Domingo at his best and a very affecting Ileana Cotrubas as Violetta. Kleiber rides the score hard at times, and Sherril Milnes, as usual, tends to shout as the elder Germont. But these are quibbles considering the overall musicality being displayed in every scene.

Overall musicality and drama are important. You can't have an outstanding La Traviata just b getting together some good vocalists. Which is why Pavarotti's earlier set on Decca was so disappointing. Leaving aside that Sutherland sounds a bit mature for the role, and that she enunciates Italian horribly, the combination of her voice and Pavarotti's is spectacular. But then you have the woefully routine conducting of Bonynge. On the Caballe set you get another bad conductor, on the Muti set you get the whole score without cuts but a very wobbly, squally Scotto and the dried-up tenor of the aging Alfredo Kraus.

It's not a perfoect world, and once you summarize all the pluses and minuses, this 1992 set under Levine looks better and better. Studer has all it takes to make Violetta musically and dramaticaly convincing. I am not concerned about vocal slips here and there. Pavarotti is in very good voice for his age, and Alfredo suits that voice perfeclty. He is a model of musicianship and perfect enunciation. Pons is adequate but no better. Levine conducts from the inside, with real understanding and emotion. Altogether, this is the best La Traviata on disc since the Kleiber recording--I for one am very grateful it came along.

While DG casts three superstars on this recording, Juan Pons is the only one who really shines here. His full bodied baritone voice is moving and penetrating. In Act I, Studer sounds awkward and uncomfortabe with her vocal lines and one hears how difficult the two colortura arias "Ah forse liu" and "Sempre Libre" really are. Pavarotti truly has a sense for Verdi, for the role and the language. But this recording reveals a lot of technical flaws in his voice that I have not heard any where else.

While I don't have an alternate recommendation for this Traviata, if you want an excellent recording of Studer singing Verdi, I highly recommend the DG recording of Othello (with Domingo & Leiferkus) as one of the very best opera recordings out there.

This recording could have been one of the best on the market. With its superstar cast and famous conductor, I bought this recording with high expectations.

They were severely disappointed.

Pavarotti, at one time, was the one the best Alfredo's around. But in this 1992 recording his voice sounds strained and weak and is simply unable to meet the rigors of the part. Studer is at best uninspired as Violetta. At worst, her portrayal of the vibrant fun-loving playgirl is boring and lifeless. At some points I get the impression she would rather be singing a different part. And the orchestra sounds about half as big as it ought to be, an orchestra of mice rather than men (and, of course, women).

What saves this recording from a lower score is an intense Pons as the elder Germont. He "di Provenza" is actually quite good and he sounds appropriately sad and torn during the opera, as he should. His is the only worthwhile performance in the entire recording (excepting perhaps the gypsies at the beginning of Act 2, Scene 2). Many of the other minor characters are admirably filled, but the lack of strong leads ruins the entire performance.

In short, this recording is a major disappointment, and at $$$, a major waste of your money. If you really want a great recording of this opera, buy instead Giulini's 1955 La Scala production with Callas and diStephano. This is probably the hands down definitive recording of the opera; too bad the sound is less than stellar. For a more modern version, listen to Klieber's 1990 recording with Cotrubas and Domingo. Both offer a much better alternative than this train wreck of a recording.

I just bought this CD... and it is FANTASTIC. Please buy it, the singing is gorgeous, the acting is superb, and the orchestra is just.. spot on. I recommend this recording over all others of Traviata, and I have heard quite a few.

James Levine's recording of Verdi's La Traviata (I believe) never got the just recognition it deserves. I think it is THE best recording of Traviata ever recorded. James Levine are like old friends in this recording. They compliment each other to a T. Cheryl Studer is the reason I love this recording. Her frail and beutiful voice make a brilliant characterization of Violetta. Some reviewers complain that she has some trouble with the vocal passages but you have to remember- Violetta had TB- she is not supposed to sound like a Valkerie. Luciano Pavarotti (R.I.P) really makes for a great Alfredo even though in this recording he was rather long in the tooth. Juan Pons is a great Germont. Put all of the leads and a great supporting cast and chorus into perspective and we have a world-class recording of Traviata that everyone can enjoy. My Verdict: buy now!!! (or if you are skeptical buy the highlights!)

This recording is very BAD! Stay away from it. Studer is not ment to sing Violetta. She does not even sound as if she is into the part. Pavarotti was ment to sing Alfredo, just not here! He is still one of the best Alfredo's around, but this recording he sounds bored and not into his character. Juan Pons is great as Germont, but just because he is in it, its not worth buying this bad recording. The orchestra under James Levine sounds, for lack of a better word, weird! It does not sound full, but not to small. Very bad reading of one of the very few Verdi opera's I like.

This has got to be one of the best recordings available of La Traviata. Studer is perfect here, she has the right amount of dramatic power and coluratura ability to suit the role of Violetta. Pavarotti's voice is a little more aged here than in his recording with Sutherland, and is thus darker and heavier making it more suitable for the role. Pons is also one of the most impressive Germont's on disc. The solos and group pieces are beautiful. THe chorus and orchestra of the Metropolitan is masterfully conducted by Levine. This really has got to be my choice of all the Traviata's available.