La Traviata

As a huge fan of Mirella Freni, Verdi and of La Traviata, I saw this 1973 TV film of the amazing opera. I happen to have it on CD, and I happened to come across it as a TV film and when I watched it I was blown away by it.

My favourite Traviatas are still the Zeffirelli film and the one with Anna Moffo. This is just exquisite though. The costumes are truly sumptuous on the eye, especially Violetta's in Act 2, and the settings are gorgeous, especially those of Sempre Libera and Ditta Alla Giuvine. The photography captures all this perfectly.

The music is sublime throughout, Ditta Alla Giuvine especially I can hear and watch over and over again and never get tired of it. The orchestra play emotionally and superbly, and I loved how wonderfully genteel Lamberto Gardelli's conducting was, even if one or two of the chorus scenes were a tad subdued.

The story is still heartfelt. The opera makes me cry during the final scene, and goodness as well as Freni's incredibly moving Addio Del Passato this Traviata did that.

The chorus are beautifully balanced and sing and act very well. The principals in general are outstanding. Franco Bonisoli is very dashing looks-wise as Alfredo and sings perfectly particularly in Lunge Da Lei. If there was a let down, it was that his reaction to Violetta's death wasn't as genuine as it could've been.

Sesto Bruscantini is a sympathetic, distinguished and somewhat overbearing Germont. He acts with sincerity, reacts well with Freni and Bonisoli and sings with a good if dry tone. Ditta Alla Giuvine is just stunning, and Di Provenza is mostly very effective if a little throaty in the passaggio.

The star is Mirella Freni. She mayn't be one of the best Violettas I've seen or heard, but for me she is one of the most musical, intelligent and moving. She looks so alluring here, and really engrosses herself into the role. Her singing is sublime throughout as is her musicality with some of the most gorgeous pianissimos I've heard of any soprano, and her Addio Del Passato literally killed me emotionally.

Overall, truly lovely. 9/10 Bethany Cox