Editorial Review:

Amazon.com essential recording:
The best Traviata on disc? If not, it's within hailing distance. No true Verdian would want to be without Callas's 1955 live recording, and it's hard not to love those starring Moffo, Caballe, Scotto, Sutherland, and de los Angeles among others. But this set offers the best all-round combination of excellent sound, fine singing, and dynamic conducting. Ileana Cotrubas is a wonderfully spontaneous Violetta, conveying the passion and vulnerability of the character. Only Callas among her starry rivals on disc can match Cotrubas's emotional and vocal mastery here. Domingo sings with ardor, and Milnes uses his beautiful voice to good effect as Germont. But it's Carlos Kleiber's show, and that enigmatic conductor leads the most energetic Traviata since Toscanini. Tempos are fast, but his sense of theatricality is unerring--this is one of those studio recordings that captures the sense of being at the opera house listening to one of those rare performances when everything clicks. --Dan Davis









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Disc 1:

1. Prelude
2. Act 1: 'Dell'invito trascora è già l'ora?'
3. Act 1: 'Libiamo ne' lieti calici'
4. Act 1: 'Che è ciò?'
5. Act 1: 'Un dì felice, eterea'
6. Act 1: 'Ebben? che diavol fate?'
7. Act 1: 'Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora'
8. Act 1: 'È strano!... Ah, fors'è lui'
9. Act 1: 'Follie! Delirio vano è questo!... Sempre libera'
10. Act 2: 'Lunge da lei... De' miei bollenti spiriti'
11. Act 2: 'Annina, donde vieni?... O mio rimorso!'
12. Act 2: 'Alfredo?' - 'Per Parigi or or partiva'
13. Act 2: 'Pura siccome un angelo'
14. Act 2: 'Non sapete quale affetto'
15. Act 2: 'Un dì, quando le veneri'
16. Act 2: 'Ah! Dite alla giovine'
17. Act 2: 'Imponete!' - 'Non amarlo ditegli'
18. Act 2: 'Dammi tu forza, o cielo'
19. Act 2: 'Che fai?' - 'Nulla'
20. Act 2: 'Ah, vive sol quel core'
21. Act 2: 'Di Provenza il mar, il suol'
22. Act 2: 'Né rispondi d'un padre all'affetto?... No, non udrai'

Disc 2:

1. Act 2: 'Avrem lieta di maschere la notte'
2. Act 2: 'Noi siamo zingarelle'
3. Act 2: 'Di Madride noi siam mattadori'
4. Act 2: 'Alfredo! Voi'
5. Act 2: 'Invitato a qui seguirmi'
6. Act 2: 'Ogni suo aver tal femmina'
7. Act 2: 'Di sprezzo degno se stesso rende'
8. Act 2: 'Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core'
9. Act 3: Prelude
10. Act 3: 'Annina?' - 'Comandate?'
11. Act 3: 'Teneste la promessa... Attendo, né a me giungon mai... Addio del passato'
12. Act 3: 'Largo al quadrupede'
13. Act 3: 'Signora' - 'Che t'accadde?'
14. Act 3: 'Ah, non più... Ah! Gran Dio! Morir sì giovine'
15. Act 3: 'Ah, Violetta?' - 'Voi? Signor?'
16. Act 3: 'Prendi, quest'è l'immagine'

Rating: - Warmth and power.....
La Traviata is among my favorites, but initially I thought I'd made a mistake getting this one. The 2nd act reassured me. Cotrubas and Milnes are outstanding together! Their interaction is touching and poignant. She really has a rich, silky voice that was at its best in that act. I like Domingo here -- he's a fine tenor. While I agree that his voice is a little heavy (or mature) for this role, he still conveys that callow youth.

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Rating: - El despertar de los sentidos
Efectivamente para quienes gustan y confían en el talento del maestro Keliber, no se equivocarán con esta producción, ya que la intensidad, el tiempo y la forma han sido cuidados minuciosamente, haciendo de esta obra una verdader guía musical para el alma en cada cuadro... "della gioia a la morte"...
Domingo es poderoso y apasionado Alfredo, aunque se limite en los altos, muy altos; y Milnes un Don Caballero, elegante, duro y tierno. Ambos grandes acompañantes para Violetta.
Ileana Cotrubas es Violetta, y no hay más. Es rápida y coqueta en el primer acto, dubitativa al conocer a Alfredo, y luego sufre, hasta la muerte. La interpretación de la Cotrubas es tal que el auditor puede imaginar la belleza herida de la cortesana. El recitado de la carta es conmovedor, y aunque la potencia de un Amami Alfredo! no sea de gusto para algunos, le creo cada frase y cada nota. Es una Violeta adictiva que en conjunto con la batuta de Kleiber será pasión garantizada.

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Rating: - Sublime!
Easily one of the best "La Traviata" recordings EVER if not THE best. A perfect cast, and everything about this recording is simply beautiful in every way. A must-have in the collections of all opera lovers!

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Rating: - The Best Studio Traviata?
I have to confess that the only reason why I bought this recording was because of Kleiber. I never cared for Cotrubas's voice because I always found it nasal and not very attractive. I'm a big Callas fan and her voice is certainly not everyone's taste and is also slightly on the nasal side but she delivers so much that I can overlook the faults. I've never been a big fan of Domingo's because I strongly believe a tenor should have high notes. And I never really understood what was so great about Milnes. He certainly had a big voice and was a barihunk but those lunges at the high notes and piano singing in the back of his throat always turned me off. But, I was pleasantly surprised by the performances in this recording. Cotrubas is one of the best Violettas in a studio made recording. She certainly understands what she's singing about. Domingo is youthful and ardent, although the high notes are strained and the high C in the cabaletta to his aria is obviously spliced in. I noticed that immediately even without using headphones. Milnes is at his best here although the performance is wooden and he really does nothing in the duet with Violetta nor with his aria.

But for me the star of this recording is Klieber and since the great maestro recorded only a few operas, I couldn't resist having this one, which is also a favorite opera of mine.

Overall it doesn't compare with the live Callas La Scala and is several notches below Anna Moffo's recording which does have a tenor with ringing high notes (Richard Tucker) and a much more adept and convincing Germont (Robert Merrill). In fact if sound is a consideration, you might want to go with the Moffo recording in it's Living Stereo release. Avoid the first edition which is really lousey.

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Rating: - Verdi - La Traviata / Cotrubas · Domingo · Milnes · Bayerisches Staatsorchester · Carlos Kleiber
There are just no words that explain how the music over whelms the soul and has the body swaying whilst the voice attempts to reach the various notes of these accomplised artists. One can only feel an overwhelming envy of those having the capability of, dear I say, such vocal talent, that only the listener can share with many that have only an ear of appreciation.