La Traviata

Beautiful...just beautiful. Sad and emotional. Beautiful story, music, singing and acting. Beautifully done. I'm at a loss for more words here. Not to be missed!

Director Franco Zeffirelli brings Guiseppe Verdi's opera gloriously to the screen with a cast that includes Teresa Stratas, Placido Domingo, and Cornell MacNeil, as well as the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and chorus, in this Oscar-nominated production. This might be a good one to move to next, after Bizet's Carmen, if you are trying to understand the musical form. ---from Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013

Verdi outdid himself when he penned La Traviata. The cast of singers for this production is superb. The cinematography is appropriately both beautiful and colorful, particularly at the Villa outside Paris.

Stratas is excellent and poignant as Violetta. Domingo makes a most passionate Alfredo. Cornell MacNeil is a splendid Giorgio Germont. Alan Monk is a fine Baron. The cinematography is particularly fine.

All in all this is one of the finest productions of La Traviata ever.

I believe that I have it on both laser disc and DVD.

For someone who doesn't particularly like opera to rate this a ten must mean that there is something amazing going on here. It's not just Verdi's music, which is incredible, not just the terrific singing and acting from Stratas (unbelievable performance), Domingo and company, not just Zeffirelli's brilliant direction, but also the beautiful costuming, perfect lighting and out-of-this-world art decoration and set design. And let's not forget the great photography, especially during the ball scenes. It's one of the best musical entertainments ever committed to celluloid - and this from one who loves musicals. It's an unforgettable movie experience - so how is that, as of Dec. 2020, it only rates a 7.0 on IMDB?! Come on people, broaden your horizons and show your appreciation for this brilliant work.

This version of the famous tearjerker La Traviata was just wonderful from beginning to end. The cinematography was stunning, and just as luscious were the costumes and locations, especially the villa outside Paris. The music by Verdi is just superb, no wonder it is one of the most performed operas today, from the prelude of Act 1, Brindisi(which I am sure everybody knows even if they're not into opera), Sempre Libra, Di Provenza to the heart-rending ending and especially the Act 2 duet between Violetta and Germont, it is just delightful, and is bound to bring tears to people's eyes like it did to me. The plot, based on the book by Alexandre Dumas Junior, is not too complicated and easy to follow. The performances are astonishing. Placido Domingo, not only looks the part of Alfredo, but sang and acted a dream, easily up there with Alfredo Krauss, as one of the best tenors playing that particular character. Teresa Stratus was perfection as Violetta. I did worry that her performance was going to leave me cold, but her beautiful voice and outstanding acting ability equalled a real tearjerker of a performance, that was poignant and understated. Cornell MacNeill is not a name I am familiar with, but he certainly shone as Germont, with a fine baritone voice, and good stage presence. Overall, a perfect opera film, that is a real tearjerker. 10/10 Bethany Cox