Verdi - La Traviata / Gruberova, Shicoff, Zancanaro, Rizzi, La Fenice

Verdi - La Traviata / Gruberova, Shicoff, Zancanaro, Rizzi, La Fenice | Edita Gruberova, Neil Shicoff | More than 5 stars - and a Deep Bow to Mr. Shicoff

DVDs:

Verdi - La Traviat...

	Verdi - La Traviata / Gruberova, Shicoff, Zancanaro, Rizzi, La Fenice Edita Gruberova, Neil Shicoff Kultur Video, 2005 average customer review:based on 10 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

La Traviata was recorded at what was one of Venice's most exquisite 18th-century opera houses, La Fenice, tragically destroyed by fire in 1996, and now rebuilt. This glorious house is where La Traviata was premiered in 1853. In this memorable performance with the orchestra and chorus of La Fenice and Balletto di Toscana, Slovak soprano Edita Gruberova takes the leading role of Violetta, the tragic heroine, persuaded by Alfredo's father, Giorgio, to sacrifice her happiness with Alfredo (Neil Shicoff) for the sake of family honor.

A soaring Violetta

I don't remember being this moved by a production of La Traviata in a long time. Are you interested in FEELING the opera in addition to seeing and hearing it? Climb aboard.

The three leads are in gorgeous voice, devastatingly dramatic in their respective roles. It took me a little while to warm up to Edita Gruberova's Violetta, but by opera's end I was sold. Her Addio del passato(performed uncut) ranks with the best I've heard, and her physical performance improves over the course of the opera, culminating in a flawless rendition of the character's deterioration, redemption, death, etc. Neil Shicoff might not look the part of Alfredo(he's rather bookish for the ardent loverboy), but his voice is lovely and resounding, and one gets the feeling that if the tenor were blessed with the smoldering looks of a Placido Domingo, he would be much more well known and appreciated. Giorgio Zancanaro is perfect as the elder Germont, making the character more sympathetic than(perhaps) he has a right to be. The final scene is shattering, with both men huddled together, impotently watching Violetta fade out, coming to the realization that they have just been playing roles imposed on them by the society they live in while Violetta is the only real person among them, the only character in the drama who has truly lived, and one gets the impression that these two sad and regretful men feel unworthy to be in the same room with such a soaring free spirit. It's a magnificent bit of acting on the parts of Shicoff and Zancanaro. The fact that Gruberova's Violetta doesn't bear any grudges only reinforces her superiority, and her death is exultant, both vocally and dramatically.

The sets are beautiful, somewhat dark, less detailed and opulent than in some productions but no less effective. Carlo Rizzi's conducting is slower than the norm but rarely to the point of being plodding or distracting. There are a couple of cuts in the score, but unfortunately that's a common practice with Traviata unless the conductor is Solti or Levine. In this case, the excisions aren't damaging to the overall performance, just a little annoying.

I own two DVDs of La Traviata, this one and the Solti/Gheorghiu production. I'm not going to pick one over the other because both are wonderful. My advice: if you can only buy one Traviata, play a game of eeny meeny miny mo, if not, grab them both.

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More than 5 stars - and a Deep Bow to Mr. Shicoff

Yes of course Mme Gruberova is fabulous; that's how she exists.

I direct your attention to Mr. Shicoff. I have been listening to and watching performances of La Traviata for approximately 50 years. I'm used to it. But I was amazed at Mr. Shicoff's acting in Act I, and blown away in Act II, Scene 1 (when I had to ask someone to bring on the Kleenex) and, at the end of Scene 2 found myself sobbing.

Mr. Shicoff is the ONLY tenor of my 50 years listening who shows any acquaintance whatsoever with the writings of Dumas Pere et Fils. He's not pretty to look at, he doesn't try to eclipse everyone within miles of his stardome - he just recreates Alfredo. And breaks one's heart, for Dumas Fils was a gentleman to his fingertips and had a heart that could break.

The only critique I have of this DVD is that Mr. Shicoff's Act II Scene 1 cavatina was cut. With an actor like him, we could have used it. Savored it. If there were more tenors around like him, but there aren't and never will be, this opera could be performed as "ALFREDO".

Mr. Shicoff is the tenor who should have shared Traviata with Mme Callas.

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Every note is pure gold

This is an outstanding Traviata. Gruberova' outstanding control of her voice and her exquisite emoting make this the best Traviata I have seen. Every note from her is just pure gold. Traviata is not an easy role but it does not pose any problems for Gruberova. She is Traviata. I bet this is Gruberova at her very very best. Schicoff and Zancanaro are both very good. Schicoff's voice is kind of an acquired taste. I have followed his career for many years and this Traviata is a good representation of his artistry. His singing becomes more intense as the opera preceeds. His voice is not the most flexible but his sincerity is never in doubt. If you are looking for only one Traviata DVD in your collection, look no further.

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Brought me to tears

I just recently bought this DVD based on the rave reviews it recieved here at amazon. And I was not dissapointed. I watched it with my family and at the end we were all in tears! I haven't been so moved by a recording since I heard the Tosca with Callas and di Stefano. Thank you Edita Gruberova for a historic performance!

Breath taking

Perfect! Gruberova sings her precious heart out with control and conviction. Her agility is astounding. Shicoff is a sweatheat and I fell in love with him as Alfredo. His pain and joys are clearly felt and alomst unbearable. He is strong yet senstive. Their acting is superb, every jesture is meaningfull and beautiful. This DVD haunts me in the best possible way!

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reviews: page 1, 2

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