Liliana Cavani s La Traviata (1992) (TV) [1982]
£14.99
Wonderful Traviata - A wonderful Traviata. Stratas and Domingo perfect for their parts. It can be watched with pleasure any number of times.The final scene was unbearably touching, in contrast with the rich animation and activity of the first Act.
troublesome traviata - I have a fondness for this - I remember going to see it at the cinema as a teenager and being swept away by the lavish magnificence and the over-done tragedy.But now - well now it all seems a bit over done frankly and Stratas really CAN T sing Violetta, however hard she tries (which is very). Sempre Libeera is just dreadful, and it s only because it s in the context of her well acted performance that she gets away with it. But she s pretty screechy throughout. The opera-film repeats music in odd places and is very much a filmic interpretation. Nothing wrong with that I suppose but I can t say that it works for me.Fans of Domingo should listen to his DG recording with Cotrubas - a proper Violetta
This should be on DVD, a wonderful opera film - Ten years on video and no DVD yet! Come on Deutsche Grammophon release the DVD, please! This is one of the best opera films available. Zeffirelli went to town on this, with sumptuous costumes and sets. His three stars were wonderful. Stratas actually looks like a consumptive and sings gorgeously. Domingo was fantastic in this part looking great and singing and acting like a dream, showing that some tenors can actually act as well as sing. Cornel MacNeil was just right as the pompous father who lives to regret his actions. This film was probably one of the first opera films to do well in cinemas and it stayed fairly true to the original opera, only missing out a couple of arias. If you ve never seen an opera this is a good film to start with.
The ultimate opera film - This lavish production brings the sad story of the famous 19th century courtesan to life like no other. The singers are excellent, the costumes extraordinarily beautiful and the set decorations lovingly arranged with great eye to period detail, right down to the idyllic outdoor settings and the hundreds of candles and real champagne in the ball scenes. And as if that s not enough, the dance scenes even feature stars of the Bolshoi ballet!