Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Performer: Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón, Thomas Hampson, Helene Schneiderman, Diane Pilcher, Salvatore Cordella, Luigi Roni, Dritan Luca, Wilhelm Schwinghammer, Paul Gay, Herman Wallen, Salvatore Cordella, Rupert Huber, Wiener Staatsoper
Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Carlo Rizzi
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Catalogue: 4775933
Release: 2005
Size: 489 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
La Traviata
CD 01
Act I
01. Prelude
02. “Dell’invito trascorsa è già l’ora”
03. “Libiamo ne’lieti calici”
04. “Che è ciò?”
05. “Un dì felice, eterea”
06. “Ebben? che diavol fate?”
07. “Si ridesta in ciel l’aurora”
08. “E strano! – Ah, fors’è lui”
09. “Follie! Delirio vano è questo!” – “Sempre libera”
Act II
10. “Lunge da lei” – “De’ miei bollenti spiriti”
11. “Annina, donde vieni?” – “Oh mio rimorso!”
12. “Alfredo?” “Per Parigi or or partiva”
13. “Pura siccome un angelo”
14. “Non sapete quale affetto”
15. “Un dì, quando le veneri”
16. “Ah! Dite alla giovine”
17. “Imponete” “Non amarlo ditegli”
18. “Dammi tu forza, o cielo!”
19. “Che fai?” “Nulla”
20. “Ah, vive sol quel core”
21. “Di Provenza il mar, il suol”
22. “Né rispondi d’un padre all’affetto?” – “No, non udrai rimproveri”
CD 02
Act II
01. “Avrem lieta di maschere la notte”
02. “Noi siamo zingarelle”
03. “Di Madride noi siam mattadori”
04. “Alfredo! Voi!”
05. “Invitato a qui seguirmi”
06. “Ogni suo aver tal femmina”
07. “Di sprezzo degno se stesso rende”
08. “Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core”
Act III
09. Prelude
10. “Annina?” “Comandate?”
11. “Teneste la promessa…Addio del passato”
12. “Largo a quadrupede”
13. “Signora…Che t’accadde…Parigi, o cara”
14. “Ah, non più!” – “Ah! Gran Dio! Morir sì giovine”
15. “Ah, Violetta!” “Voi? Signor?”
16. “Prendi, quest’è l’immagine”
This fine recording of La Traviata comes from a production at the 2005 Salzburg Festival. With an all-star cast featuring Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón, and Thomas Hampson, the performances generated an ecstatic reaction from the Salzburg audiences, and the recording captures the excitement of the experience. The soloists, orchestra, and chorus perform with a vibrant energy that propels the drama with unusual urgency. Netrebko sings flawlessly with a sumptuous, velvety legato, and she is completely engaging as Violetta, beautifully capturing her high spirits, her inner strength, and her physical frailty. “Ah, fors’è lui” and “Addio del passato” are particularly moving. Villazón is a fine foil for her, with a dark, burnished tenor and an impetuous, sometimes explosive temperament. Hampson’s Germont is vocally superb, but he seems somewhat disengaged and doesn’t bring the same level of emotional investment to his role as the romantic leads. Carlo Rizzi leads the Vienna Philharmonic with meticulous attention to the details of Verdi’s scoring, giving the music a punchiness that tends to get smoothed out in many performances. The orchestral balances are exceptionally fine, so that each scene is distinctively shaded and colored. DG Deutsche Grammophon’s sound is wonderfully clear and present, capturing the positive elements of a live performance without the distractions or limitations that frequently mar live recordings.