La Traviata - Verdi Review

“You see and hear the likes of Anna Netrebko once in a...”

Written on: 19/01/2008

Good Points
In spite of the shortcomings of Richard Eyre's original production, this was a memorable evening. The performance can only get better.

Does anyone have a spare ticket?

Bad Points
The set in the first act was dreadful. There were times when the chorus had no room.
Benini occassionally raced ahead and the orchestra sometimes threatened to drown some singers.

General Comments
You see and hear the likes of Anna Netrebko once in a lifetime. If you have not been buy, beg or steal a ticket. Opera needed a fillip and she will be its savior. After the first night, I went home and compared her to Angela Gheorghiu on the Decca label. By comparison, Gheorghiu sounds constipated. She also acts extremely well. Her " Ah forse lui che .." (means for him perchance my longing soul) was deeply moving for who among us not whispered the word perhaps to ourselves. And finally in the last act crying out against the cruel fate of dying so young "Gran Dio morir si gionvanne"