La traviata (The Fallen Woman) - Giuseppe Verdi
Information about the opera La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Verdi's most accessible opera, and now his most frequently performed and recorded, after the play 'La Dame aux camélias' by Alexandre Dumas fils.
Recommended recordings on CD
Santini/Callas/Albanese (Naxos Historical 8.110300-01)
A classic RAI broadcast recording of Callas as Violetta.
Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Turin, Coro Cetra, conducted by Gabriele Santini, 1953.
Cast: Maria Callas (Violetta Valéry), Francesco Albanese (Alfredo Germont), Ugo Savarese (Giorgio Germont), Ede Marietti Gandolfo (Flora Bervoix).
Naxos Historical 8.110300-01 (mono)
Rahbari/Krause/Ramiro (Naxos 8.660922-24)
An Opera Plus version combining La traviata (c. Rahbari) with a commentary CD.
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Bratislava, Slovak State Philharmonic Chorus, conducted by Alexander Rahbari, 12/1990.
Cast: Monika Krause (Violetta Valéry), Yordi Ramiro (Alfredo Germont), Georg Tichy (Giorgio Germont), Rannveig Braga (Flora Bervoix).
Naxos 8.660922-24
Serafin/Stella/Stefano (Naxos Historical 8.111272-73)
An acclaimed 1955 recording featuring the emerging Italian soprano Antonietta Stella.
Milan La Scala Orchestra, Milan La Scala Chorus, conducted by Tullio Serafin, 1955.
Cast: Antonietta Stella (Violetta Valéry), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Alfredo Germont), Tito Gobbi (Giorgio Germont), Flora Bervoix (Flora Bervoix).
Naxos Historical 8.111272-73 (mono)
Rahbari/Krause/Ramiro (Naxos 8.660011-12)
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Bratislava, Slovak State Philharmonic Chorus, conducted by Alexander Rahbari, 12/1990.
Cast: Monika Krause (Violetta Valéry), Yordi Ramiro (Alfredo Germont), Georg Tichy (Giorgio Germont), Rannveig Braga (Flora Bervoix).
Naxos 8.660011-12
Solti/Gheorghiu/Lopardo (Decca 448 119-2)
A superb live version, with the role that established the reputation of Angela Gheorghiu. Also available on DVD as La traviata (c. Solti).
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Sir Georg Solti, 1994.
Cast: Angela Gheorghiu (Violetta Valéry), Frank Lopardo (Alfredo Germont), Leo Nucci (Giorgio Germont), Leah-Marian Jones (Flora Bervoix).
Decca 448 119-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Pappano/Fleming/Calleja (Opus Arte OA 1040 D)
A traditional staging with Renée Fleming excellent in the title role.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Cast: Renée Fleming (Violetta Valéry), Joseph Calleja (Alfredo Germont), Thomas Hampson (Giorgio Germont), Monika-Evelin Liiv (Flora Bervoix).
Opus Arte OA 1040 D
López-Cobos/Ansellem/Bros (Opus Arte OA 0934 D)
From a live performance at the Teatro Real de Madrid in 2005, the stark staging is very effective, and Norah Ansellem is superb as Violetta.
Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real, conducted by Jésus López-Cobos, 2005.
Cast: Norah Ansellem (Violetta Valéry), José Bros (Alfredo Germont), Renato Bruson (Giorgio Germont), Itxaro Mentxaka (Flora Bervoix).
Opus Arte OA 0934 D
Welser-Möst/Mei/Beczala (Arthaus Musik I01 247)
Live from the Zurich Opera House in 2005.
Zurich Opera House Chorus, Zurich Opera House Orchestra, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, 2005.
Cast: Eva Mei (Violetta Valéry), Piotr Beczala (Alfredo Germont), Thomas Hampson (Giorgio Germont), Katharina Peetz (Flora Bervoix).
Arthaus Musik I01 247
Solti/Gheorghiu/Lopardo (Decca 0714319)
One of the most thrilling and moving performances of this opera, with a mesmerising performance by Angela Gheoghiu as Violetta.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Sir Georg Solti, 1994.
Cast: Angela Gheorghiu (Violetta Valéry), Frank Lopardo (Alfredo Germont), Leo Nucci (Giorgio Germont), Leah-Marian Jones (Flora Bervoix).
Decca 0714319