DVD 10124 LA TRAVIATA (Verdi)

To repeat and endorse the other reviewers .much better quality than I expected, no Japanese surtitles and WONDERFUL singing! If you love the late Dame Joan Sutherland you are in for a wonderful and moving treat, showing her power and ability to just use her magical voice. Bliss!

for all fans of "La stupenda". The big surprise is the more than acceptable picture quality. Professional camera work with close ups that are actually sharp! I did not expect this from a 1975 tape. I guess this is the best available DVD of Dame Joan as Violetta. She is partnered by the excellent John Alexander and Cornel MacNeil. An absolute rarity !

I saw Sutherland many times at Covent Garden,once with Kraus & Quilico in Traviata in 1975,so Joan is in very good voice as she now has the gravitas for act 11 and 11,but still has the scintilating coloratura for act 1,where she does her tetrazzini bit at the end of Sempre Libera,and she acts convincingly throughout.Alexander has always been a favourite Tenor,and here sings superbly,but why no cabaletta?MacNeil is also superb,melting somewhat in the duet with Sutherland,Bonynge does his usual great job in accompanying the singers,the sets and production are of the proper date.