Love, death, and champagne—Verdi's ultimate tearjerker with pipes that could shatter glass.
This DVD of a live 2005 performance from the Zürich Opera under the musical direction of Franz Welser-Möst has many things to recommend it -- the young tenor Piotr Beczala as Alfredo, the marvelous Thomas Hampson as Giorgio Germont, the playing of the Zurich Opera orchestra, the simple but effective sets by by Erich Wonder, the uncluttered stage direction by Jürgen Flimm. It also has some flaws: strangely variable volume level of the recorded sound sometimes coming on so loud as to make one reach for the volume control, and the uneven performance of the Violetta, Eva Mei who, for all her merits, gives a dramatically effective performance marred by occasional difficulties with vocal production. Still, overall I felt this was a moving production, one that I would recommend, although perhaps not as an only DVD of one of Verdi's most popular operas.
Acting
Thomas Hampson's Germont: patriarchal villainy with velvet baritone.
Direction
Jürgen Flimm strips away excess, lets tragedy breathe.
Production
Erich Wonder's minimalist sets age like fine Bordeaux.
Director
Felix Breisach
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This 2005 recording captures Piotr Beczala just before he became opera's most bankable tenor—watch the ascent.
Welser-Möst's interpretation controversially prioritizes orchestral transparency over vocal cushioning, exposing every crack in Mei's instrument.
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