Released:
2005-02-04

Overview:
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.

Directors:
Jürgen Flimm, Felix Breisach

Runtime:
2h 8min

Genre:
Music

• Cast:
• 
  Eva Mei
  as
  Violetta
• 
  Piotr Beczała
  as
  Alfredo
• 
  Thomas Hampson
  as
  Germont
• 
  Katharina Peetz
  as
  Flora
• 
  Miroslav Christoff
  as
  Gastone