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Verdi wrote so cruelly for his heroine that the première was a notable failure. Eva Mei takes no notice of the manifold hurdles placed along the way. She graduates with conviction from the resourceful hostess of Act 1 to the stricken Violetta of the final scene, who can utter Verdi's broken phrases with only the finest thread of sound. Alfredo seems infinitely her junior, and it is the elder Germont who matures in understanding so movingly throughout the work. The staging by Jürgen Flimm is resourceful, flamboyant where need be, and Arthaus Musik can rejoice in a DVD that has captured an exciting performance, result of admirable cooperation between the Zürich stage and pit.

Thomas Hampson as Giorgio Germont. DVD screenshot © 2005 Zurich Opera House
Thomas Hampson as Giorgio Germont. DVD screenshot © 2005 Zurich Opera House

 

Copyright © 31 May 2006 Robert Anderson, London UK

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Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata

101 247 NTSC DVD9 16:9 All regions PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 FIRST RELEASE 128' 2005 Zürich Opera House

Eva Mei, Violetta Valéry; Piotr Beczala, Alfredo Germont; Thomas Hampson, Giorgio Germont; Katharina Peetz, Flora Bervoix; Irène Friedli, Annina; Miroslav Christoff, Gastone; Valeriy Murga, Baron Douphol; Reinhard Mayr, Marchese d'Obigny; Giuseppe Scorsin, Dottore Grenvil; Noel Vasquez, Giuseppe; Heikki Yrttiaho, Domestico di Flora; Uwe Kosser, Commissionario; Chorus and Orchestra of the Zürich Opera House; Franz-Welser-Möst, conductor; Jürgen Flimm, director; Erich Wonder, stage design; Florence von Gerkan, costumes; Felix Breisach, video director

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): La Traviata (opera in three acts, 1853, libretto by Francesco Maria Piave)

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