Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Tullio Serafin, Rome Opera Orchestra :: Verdi: La Traviata

Flesh-and-blood Traviata

Erik D. LOFQUIST | Shoreline, WA | 02/05/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The perfect Traviata has yet to be recorded. However, if we agree that the most important role in this opera is the heroine, then this recording must be considered seriously. I find de los Angeles' Violetta to be the most charming and alluring on record. It is absolutely convincing that Alfredo should fall totally in love with her. De los Angeles presents a Violetta that is warm, intelligent, sensitive, and thoroghly feminine in the best sense. While Sills and Sutherland had a more efortless and exciting coloratura, they never had the range of color and expression that de los Angeles commanded easily.
Carlo del Monte, the Alfredo, and Mario Sereni, the Germont, have pretty much faded into obscurity since 1960. There is much to admire in them, however. Del Monte has a pleasing, masculine tenor (similar to Alfredo Kraus) that lifts this role beyond mere support for the soprano. Sereni is quite good in the Act II duet, combining buttery Merrill-like tones that end abrubply and become more harsh, befitting his conflicting emotions in this scene.
Serafin's conducting is perfect as it nearly always was and as we've come to expect. The Rome Opera Orchestra plays cleanly and warmly."

Very good Traviata

Voice Lover | Durham, NC | 03/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Generally this is a very good Traviata with all the principle roles taken by excellent singers. Victoria De Los Angeles has all the vocal attributes necessary to sing this role well - and she does, with much beautiful vocal tone throughout. My problem with her is that she just sounds too nice. Violetta is a courtesan, a lady of the evening. De Los Angeles sounds like purity itself, very appealing as a Mimi or Butterfly, but not really appropriate for Violetta.



In my opinion, Mario Sereni had one of the most beautiful baritones of the 20th century and it's very much in evidence in this recording. Not only is his voice beautiful, but it's one of the better characterizations of Germont pere that I've heard. Recommended.



I wasn't familiar with Carlo Del Monte, but he does very well by Alfredo and it was a pleasure to hear him in the part.



There are as many opinions of what it takes to be a great Violetta as there are recordings (actually probably more), so while I could recommend one or another, you'd probably disagree with me. But if you want to hear these particular singers in these parts, this is an excellent recording, but not the best overall recording of Traviata."