Verdi: Traviata (La) > Reviews > The woman gone astray

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money

Advantages:	The drinking song, the melancholy oboes
Disadvantages:	Long  -   approx 2 hrs

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

La Traviata
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
Conductor: Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra: Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
Performer: Angela Gheorghiu (Soprano): Violetta
Frank Lopardo (Tenor): Alfredo
Leo Nucci (Baritone): Gioggio Germont
Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus
Label: Decca
Released: July 1, 1995
Price: £25.99
Availability: At must good music shops

Giuseppe Verdi was born on October 1813 near Busseto in North Italy. Although Verdi composed in other mediums including sacred choral works, he is best known for his Operas. La Traviata was composed in 1853. Translated as The woman gone astray, it was based on a play by Dumas (of The Three Muskateers fame). Set in Paris, it is an opera of true love.

Musical Synopsis
Act 1. The Parisian courtesan, Violetta, hosts a party in her Paris Salon. She is introduced to a new admirer Alfredo Germont. Violetta and Alfredo together with the chorus sing the well known drinking song, Libiamo. The guests move to the next room, a dance hall. Violetta faints and stays in her parlour to recover. Alfredo enters and cofesses his love, Un di felice singing softly at first but grows in confidence as the music rises. She agrees to meet him the next day. When he leaves, she wonders if he could be the man Ah, fors'è lui but decides she prefers her freedom, Sempre liber an aria that demands great vocal skills including trills, vocal leaps and highly sung scales.

Act 2 Alfredo and Violetta set up home together in a country house near Paris. Alfredo sings of his contentment, De' miei bollenti spiriti. The maid tells Afredo that Violetta is still selling sexual favours to pay for their home and lifestyle. Alfredo’s father, Gioggio Germont, arrives. He tells Violetta that she is tearing his family apart, Pur siccombe un angelo, the deep baritone voice interminging with smoot clarinet accompaniment. He convinces her to denounce his son. In a melancolny duo accompanied by cellos and oboe, she agrees, Dite alla giovine. She writes Alfredo a farewell note, Amami, Alfredo. Alfredo confronts Violetta at a party. The Act ends as the main characters join together each singing about their own feelings. The ensemble is truly fantastic as soloists and chorus move the drama on reaching a climax as Alfredo and the Baron challenge each other to a duel.

Act 111 The third act opens with a melancholy nocturne. The story has progressed six months. Set in Violetts bedroom, a doctor tells her she does not have long to live. She has tuberculitis. She recalls her past happiness with Alfredo in a solo, Addido del passato accompanied by a sorrowful oboe. Alfred returns and asks to see her. She attemopts to rise but realises she can’t. A trombone accentuates her exclamatory song, Gran Dio, non posso (Great God, it is not possible). A death march plays and Violetta tragically dies.

My Opion
Verdi is the king of operatic choruses. His drinking song is one of the most popular and most song choruses of all time. The opera is long approximately 2 hours. This particular CD contains all the tracks from the opera. I personally prefer this however this could be quite a chore for a non-opera lover. There are other CDs available that feature the most popular songs from the opera. The opera is dramatic and there is not many that fail to be moved at Violetta’s death. Angela Gheorghiu is probably the best Violetta there has ever been. She features on the cover of this CD.