Verdi: La Traviata
April 2003 Reviewed by: Wes Marshall Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

Verdi defined a successful opera as one where all the seats were filled with a happy audience. His modus for accomplishing this was to place passionate and complicated characters in extraordinarily thorny situations and give them beautiful tunes to sing about their difficult lives. By 1852, the time of his nineteenth opera, La Traviata, Verdi was already a famous and well-loved composer.

La Traviata is translated as "the fallen woman" in the Viking Opera Guide, although the word traviata means something closer to "courtesan." Let’s just say that the heroine, Violetta Valéry (Stefania Bonfadelli), took money for sex. Suffering from her lack of honor and tuberculosis, she falls in love with Alfredo Germont (Scott Piper) and they move to the country. When Alfredo finds that Violetta has been selling her possessions to keep them provisioned, he takes off to Paris to try to raise some money. Shortly after Alfredo leaves, his father, Giorgio Germont (Renato Bruson), approaches Violetta and begs her not to shame his family. He convinces her that her life will always be miserable, but that she can at least save Alfredo’s happiness by turning him away. She leaves Alfredo a note telling him that she has decided to return to her former "patron," Baron Douphol (Ezio Maria Tisi). When Alfredo reads the note, he vows revenge against the Baron.

Later, Alfredo runs into the Baron and Violetta at a palace party. Alfredo has been gambling heavily and winning. He walks over to Violetta and throws the money at her feet, proclaiming loudly to the crowd that it is money for services rendered. Giorgio can’t believe his son's cruelty. Alfredo blames everyone but himslef. Meanwhile, poor Violetta just wants true love. Alfredo wounds the Baron in a duel and leaves town. Thankfully, Alfredo's father finally tells him the truth and he rushes back to Violetta’s side. It is too late. Tuberculosis has wracked her body and she is dying. Soon the father joins them, wanting to make amends for the problems he caused. Violetta offers him hope that Alfredo will find a "better" woman, and then dies.

La Traviata is one of the most popular operas in history and there are already at least five DVD versions available. The TDK version has many plusses, including Bonfadelli’s beautiful voice and splendid acting. The fact that she is uncommonly thin (for an opera singer) helps make her tubercular consumption more believable. Renato Bruson is the Gene Hackman of the opera world, investing dignity and professionalism into every role. Plácido Domingo conducts the orchestra with great tenderness. Zeffirelli’s direction is so intimate you forget there is a live audience. The sound is superb, with the DTS track just beating out the Dolby Digital track. Finally, the picture quality is nearly high definition. The extras are up there with Citizen Kane’s encyclopedic offering. We even get the chance to see Zeffirelli visit Verdi’s wedding altar and have a discussion with two priests about Violetta’s whoring and redemption. La Traviata is a feast for opera lovers.

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