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11/09/2007
Giuseppe Verdi: La Traviata
Renée Fleming (Violetta Valéry), Rolando Villazón (Alfredo Germont), Renato Bruson (Giorgio Germont), Daniel Montenegro (Gastone), Philip Kraus (Barone Douphol), Lee Poulis (Marchese d’Obigny), James Creswell (Dottore Grenvil), Suzanna Guzmán (Flora Bervoix), Anna Alkhimova (Annina), Sal Malaki (Servo di Violetta), Tim Smith (Servo di Flora), Mark Kelley (Commissionaro).
Martha Domingo (Stage Production), Giovanni Agostinucci (Sets and Costumes), Kitty McNamee (Choreographer), Duane Schuler (Lighting Designer).
Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, James Conlon (conductor), Los Angeles Opera Chorus, William Vendice (Chorus Master).
Co-production with Washington National Opera and Opéra Royal de Wallonie (Ličge, Belgium).
Public Recording, Los Angeles, Chandler’s Pavilion (Fall of 2006). Directed for Video by Brian Large. Running Time: 141 mn. HD Recording.
Booklet in English only. Subtitles available in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.
DECCA ref. #: B0010100-09 HD
Our warmest congratulations to the Los Angeles Opera and the producers of this DVD for a memorable production of La Traviata now captured for present as well as future generations of opera lovers. Refurbished stage production by Martha Domingo is classic and lavish at the same time. Costumes, imported from the Met for the occasion, are something to behold: miles of exuberant red satin, Calais lace, and burgundy chintz rustling and pirouetting on the stage. The cast is simply astonishing. World acclaimed Mexican tenor Rollando Villazón delivers an electrifying performance. One could not dream of a better, more ardent, more sensuous, more convincing Alfredo. The voice rides over the orchestra with stupendous facility and elegance, the timbre is radiant and generous. Singing opposite Villazón is world super-star Renée Fleming, making her long-awaited company début in Los Angeles. The American diva takes the part of Violetta Valéry – quite certainly the most admired, the most coveted, and the most challenging role of the entire soprano repertoire - to an apotheosis. Ms. Fleming is one of the very rare singers to possess the numerous pre-requisites of the part. Her riveting performance unquestionably allows her to enter the (not so populated) Traviata Hall of Fame. Baritone Renato Bruson in Giorgio Germont is the perfect, stylish, French XIXth century bourgeois. All other supporting roles, including Suzanna Guzmán in Flora Bervoix and the LA Opera Chorus, rise to the occasion with great talent and professionalism.
Also making his Los Angeles Opera début is James Conlon, conducting the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra. The Maestro, superbly eliciting a wonderful orchestral score, takes us on a subtle and delicate ride, never forgetting that with such singers his role almost becomes minor.
This High Definition video tape offers deep, crystal-clear sound (way too loud in the applause, however) as well as a crisp image.
Renée Fleming will be singing the title role of La Traviata at the Lyric of Chicago in January 2008.
Christian Dalzon
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