Editorial Review:

Amazon.com essential recording:
This live recording of the 1955 Visconti production at La Scala is the best of the available Maria Callas Traviatas. Aside from a minor pitch problem or two, she's in great voice, coloring phrases to reveal character and investing the coloratura with variety and passion. Her 'Addio del passato' is heart-breaking. She fully captures Violetta's pride and vulnerability in the scene with Germont, though her partner, Ettore Bastianini, sings insensitively, if beautifully. Giuseppe Di Stefano is all one could ask for as Alfredo. Carlo Giulini conducts a performance that delivers all the lyricism and drama of the score. The recorded sound is primitive, but in EMI's latest transfer you can listen through it to a wondrous performance. --Dan Davis









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Disc 1:

1. Preludio
2. Act One: Dell'invito trascorsa è già l'ora
3. Act One: Libiamo, ne' lieti calici
4. Act One: Che è ciò?
5. Act One: Un di felice, eterea
6. Act One: Ebben? Che diavol fate?
7. Act One: Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora
8. Act One: È strano! È strano!
9. Act One: Ah, fors'è lui che l'anima
10. Act One: Follie! follie! Delirio vano è questo!
11. Act One: Sempre libera
12. Act Two - Scene One: Lunge da lei
13. Act Two - Scene One: De' miei bollenti spiriti
14. Act Two - Scene One: Annina, donde vieni?...Alfredo?...Per Parigi or or partiva
15. Act Two - Scene One: Pura siccome un angelo
16. Act Two - Scene One: Non Sapete quale affetto
17. Act Two - Scene One: Un di, quando le veneri
18. Act Two - Scene One: Ah! dite alla giovine
19. Act Two - Scene One: Imponete...Non amarlo ditegli
20. Act Two - Scene One: Morrò! La mia memoria
21. Act Two - Scene One: Dammi tu forza, o cielo!
22. Act Two - Scene One: Che fai?...Nulla
23. Act Two - Scene One: Ah, vive sol quel core all'amor mio!
24. Act Two - Scene One: Di Provenz il mar

Disc 2:

1. Act Two - Scene Two: Avram lieta di maschere la notte
2. Act Two - Scene Two: Noi siamo zingarelle
3. Act Two - Scene Two: Di Madride noi siam mattadori
4. Act Two - Scene Two: Alfredo! Voi!
5. Act Two - Scene Two: Invitato a qui seguirmi
6. Act Two - Scene Two: Ogni suo aver tal femmina
7. Act Two - Scene Two: Di sprezzo degno sé stesso rende
8. Act Two - Scene Two: Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core
9. Act Three: Preludio
10. Act Three: Annina/...Comandate?
11. Act Three: Teneste la promessa
12. Act Three: Addio, del passato
13. Act Three: Largo al quadrupede
14. Act Three: Signora!...Che t'accadde?
15. Act Three: Ah, non più, a un tempio]
16. Act Three: Ah! gran Dio! Morir si giovine
17. Act Three: Ah, Violetta!...Voi, signor!
18. Act Three: Prendi, quest'è l'immagine
19. Act Three: Se una pudica vergine

Rating: - Short review down to the point!
No one should consider doing a performance of Traviata without checking in with this recording first. The Callas interpretation is riveting with detail and color that stands alone. Di Stefano is young, exciting, and half crazed a great match for Callas. Bastianini is on the same level with the best of them. This is a recording you can listen to from beginning to end without boredom.
The traditional cuts are welcomed. Had Verdi composed this work 20 years later there would have been no excess. I think the cuts add focus to this masterpiece by trimming the fat. And remember this is from the mid 1950s and live. Leave the sound alone. A nice complete recording, if it exists, with Magda Olivero could have been a second choice.

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Rating: - opera lover
Love opera. Sodoes mom. Perfect Mother's Day gift for her. Sent her several operas that i purchased online. This one was missing a cd. I had to return it. Obviously a seller's mistake. Returned the package and received a refund.

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Rating: - Not a good first version for your library
Due to its' age this recording's quality is spotty. Sometimes the chorus may as well have been in another state. Callas' performance is wonderful, the rest of the principals are adequate. If you are filling out a collection of Callas' work this would be a worthy addition. If you really want to hear the opera, pick another version.

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Rating: - A historic performance
A historic performance, with Maria Callas in her best moment. Very good work in the orchestra, too. Warning: the quality of the recording is below the standard, as a label in the box honestly warns, and it is mono, not stereo, but anyway it's worth to cope with that given the quality of the interpretation.

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Rating: - Verdi: Opera LaTraviata
Enjoyable recording,singers Maria Callas, DiStefano,Bastianini surperb. Clarity as if recently recorded. Orchestra and chorus fantastic.