Verdi: La Traviata (Pappano)

Any Traviata appearing on DVD nowadays really needs to have something quite special about it to make it stand out from the ever-increasing crowd, and so Opus Arte's third outing for this opera has a lot to contend with, not least the two they have already released.

Luckily, there are many reasons why this performance (recorded over two nights in June, 2009) is to be recommended, the main one being Renée Fleming's storming performance as Violetta, the already-dying Parisian courtesan. As usual, the Romantic operatic repertoire presents us with a young lady battling with tuberculosis, yet there's much less of the expected physical weakness in her character. Rather, Fleming presents a strong and vibrant woman who isn't afaid of fighting through her troubles, even on her death-bed.

Several powerful (deliberate) coughing fits throughout cannot be good for the voice, and may have been the reason for some instances of 'carefulness' in Act 1, although these are dispensed with for the rest of the opera, with the second act almost making it worth the price of the disc alone.



Here, Fleming and the great Thomas Hampson produce one of the highlights of my operatic viewing. Hampson isn't always 'facially aware' (ok, basically one dour look throughout), but the power of his voice as Germont Sr. commands attention and the discussion between him and Violetta is one of the most moving scenes you're ever likely to witness.

In the third act, Fleming and her bedclothes are covered in blood, yet she is still a strong person, making even the often-mocked pre-death scene believeable (with the staging and lighting helping enormously). By the end, you feel as if you have experienced something rather special which perhaps only a more experienced singer can produce. This is a role often undertaken by much younger sopranos who revel in showing off how easily they can get around the notes yet cannot produce the depth of sound and characterisation we see here.



Joseph Calleja certainly has the voice for a role such as Alfredo Germont, being vocally secure and sounding like a believeable rogue...as long as you're not paying too much attention to the acting, which is far better elsewhere, although he is capable of exploding into proper theatrical expertise in the more dramatic moments.

Elsewhere, unfamiliar singers (to me anyway) provide great hope that the ROH is going to be producing some pretty good future artists, not least Monika-Evelin Liiv (Flora), Haoyin Xue (Gastone), and Sarah Pring (Annina), who fit quite naturally on this most exciting of world stages.

The chorus do a sterling job, and the dance sequences in Act II are great fun.



Richard Eyre's production is traditional to the point of needing to be dusted off before it goes on stage, although this is no bad thing despite being well-worn since 1994. Sometimes, just telling the story, simply, and in the time it was set it all you need to do.

In the pit, Pappano knows exactly what he's doing, and although there are elements of the music I would have preferred at a different tempo (notably the opening Prelude), his pacing and thrilling attention to dynamics means most things are very satisfying. The famous violin run in Act I ends in a very peculair squawk from someone, and some of the strings could well have tuned their G-Strings a little more carefully, but overall, this is a great perforrmance from a great band.



The main extra on the DVD is a 20 minute chat between Pappano and Fleming about the role of Violetta and is very watchable. The accompanying booklet is a more cut-down affair than usual with just a synopsis to read.

So then, another Traviata hits the shelves. It's certainly worthwhile grabbing a copy of this version, not only for Renée Fleming's performance, but because it's a chance to see the opera without any weak links on stage at all, which is always a bonus.