Verdi - La Traviata (Lorin Maazel, Angela Gheorghiu, Ramon Vargas)

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Verdi - La Traviata (Lorin Maazel, Angela Gheorghiu, Ramon Vargas)

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This is Angela Gheorghiu's second video of La traviata. The first was filmed in Royal Opera House in December 1994, the soprano's first performance of Violetta, and featured Sir Georg Solti on the podium (REVIEW). The new one is from performances in the summer of 2007 at La Scala, a revival of Liliana Cavani's 1990 production with lavish sets by Dante Ferretti. Unquestionably, Gheorghiu is among today's leading interpreters of the role of Violetta, vocally and dramatically. She is partnered by Ramon Vargas, an excellent Alfredo; the entire cast is strong and Lorin Maazel, after a surprisingly tame act one party scene, keeps things moving. Gabriella Pescucci's costumes, as in so many opera productions today, bring new meaning to the word "cleavage," but there are no mishaps.The other new Traviata is an outdoor stage production from the Opernfestspiele St. Margarethen July 11, 2008. Visually this is a magnificent venue for outdoor opera, but a challenge for producers and directors as well as singers. All featured singers must wear microphones which usually are relatively unnoticeable except for Georg Tichy as Giorgio Germont. The strong cast is headed by Kristiane Kaiser who is a remarkable Violetta. During curtain calls we have the opportunity to see conductor Ernst Märzendorfer, familiar to many collectors for his many recordings over the years. After the final curtain calls we see a spectacular fireworks display over the stage area, accompanied by music from Verdi's opera. Video and audio are first-rate, considering the outdoor circumstances. These are two intriguing DVDs of Verdi's masterpiece.

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Verdi - La Traviata (Lorin Maazel, Angela Gheorghiu, Ramon Vargas)

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