La traviata

La Traviata is one of my absolute favourites in the wonderful world of opera for the wonderful poignant story and sparkling, tragic music. This Glyndebourne production is not my favourite of all the Traviatas I've seen, however as a traditional performance it works excellently.

The costumes and sets are truly beautiful and sumptuous, and the quality of the picture, video directing and sound are excellent. The orchestra are superb and the chorus are animated and balanced well. Bernard Haitink's conducting is mostly precise and very musical, if rather pedestrian at times, such as the final scene.

The support cast sing and act with few qualms at all, while the three leads are excellent. Marie McLauglin is perfect as Violetta, Walter MacNeil is a dashing and beautifully sung as Alfredo and Brent Ellis while looking younger than you would expect for Germont is appropriately stern and sympathetic. The three principles nail their big arias, McLaughlin's Addio Del Passato is particularly good, while Ditta Alle Giuvine is sublime and Brindisi is very rousing.

All in all, an excellent performance. 9/10 Bethany Cox