Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Zubin Mehta, Kiri Te Kanawa :: La Traviata

A complete Traviata!!1

Carlos Fuentes y Espinosa | Mexico´s city, Mexico | 08/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is , certainly, one of the best Traviate recently recorded. I can asure you this is an amazing performance. Mehta conducted the orchestra in a perfect tempi ( a very strange thing about this opera ), and charming way. Krause is a great tenor who developes a good Alfredo ( in spite of his age at that time: 65 years old ). Dmitri Aleksandrovich Hvorostovsky is a god: he plays Mr. Germont with a beatiful, correct, lovely, powerful and well- coloured voice. I must say something which is very important. This recording presents the whole score (including the second aria for the baritone after "Di Provenza...", the whole "Parigi", etc.) of this opera for the first time. Besides the other singers sings correctly, and they offer a good image from the time in which is settled this opera. Dame Kiri sings as she always does. In other words, she sings an acceptable Violetta. It is highly recommended. Verdi would be happy if he could hear this recording! The best thing, however, is that we are able to hear it."

Exellent full score Traviata

Carlos Fuentes y Espinosa | 01/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Zubin Mehta has done it beautifully. Kiri Te Kanawa sung very expressive Violetta. Some say about her Italian diction but I don't see any problem with it. By the way, she looks stunningly beautiful on the cover.
Alfredo Kraus tried but this is his 3rd recording of Alfredo and it's not his best. He was much better with Riccardo Muti's recording in 80th.
What I really impressed was Dmitri Hvorostovsky's Germont. His voice and skills are overwelming, it's hard to put in to words. You just have to listen. This was recorded 10 years ago, so he was still in his 20th. To be this good already blew me away. He should have the crown title of "Verdi cavaliere" after Ettore Bastianini. I like this recording paticularly because extended scores are included. Mehta's later recording ( televised Traviata with Jose Cura as Alfredo )omitted Germont's 2nd aria."