Anja Harteros, Piotr Beczala, Paolo Gavanelli, Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper - Verdi: La Traviata (2022)

Farao Classic's recording of La Traviata is revelatory, largely because of the extraordinary quality of the principals who, until this release, were largely unknown to international audiences. Anja Harteros is a stunningly effective Violetta – fresh and young sounding, with absolute vocal security and interpretive sensitivity. Her tone is natural and unforced, she sings with beautiful intonation, and the skill and psychological range and insight with which she shapes the vocal lines make this a performance of the highest order. Her of renunciation of Alfredo and her death scene are heartbreakingly poignant, great moments of theater. Her voice and her dramatic depth clearly mark Harteros as an artist to watch out for. The same could be said for Paolo Gavanelli; his burnished, vibrant tone in service to a nuanced, compassionate characterization makes his Germont genuinely compelling. Piotr Beczala makes an intense, passionate Alfredo, and he sings with an open-throated, clarion sound, but he sounds too consistently overwrought to be completely persuasive. Zubin Mehta is in top form, in complete control of the score's tragic dramatic arc; his reading is both shapely in its details and propulsive in its theatricality. The Bayerischen Staatsorchester and the Chorus of the Bayerischen Staatsoper are fully responsive to his direction and perform with finesse and urgency. The SACD's clarity, presence, and balance are unusually good for a live recording. This fine new version should be of strong interest to anyone who loves the opera.
Tracklist
CD1
01. La Traviata, Act I-"Preludio
02. La Traviata, Act I-"Dell'invito trascorsa è già l'ora
03. La Traviata, Act I-"Libiamo ne lieti calici
04. La Traviata, Act I-"Che è ciò?
05. La Traviata, Act I-"Un dì felice, eterea
06. La Traviata, Act I-"Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora
07. La Traviata, Act I-"È strano!-Ah, fors'è lui
08. La Traviata, Act I-"Follie! Delirio vano è questo!-Sempre libera
09. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Lunge da lei-De'miei bollenti spiriti
10. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Alfredo? / Per Parigi or or partiva
11. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Pura siccome un angelo
12. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Un dì, quando le veneri
13. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Imponete" / "non amarlo ditegli
14. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Dammi tu forza, o cielo!
15. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Ah, vive sol quel core
16. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Di Provenza il mar, il suol
17. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Né rispondi d'un padre all'affetto?-No, non udrai rimproveri

CD2
01. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Avrem lieta di maschere la notte
02. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Di Madride noi siam mattadori
03. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Alfredo Voi!
04. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Invitato a qui seguirimi
05. La Traviata, Act Ii-"Di sprezzo degno se stesso rende
06. La Traviata, Act Iii-"Preludio
07. La Traviata, Act Iii-"Annina?" / "Comandate?
08. La Traviata, Act Iii-"Teneste la promessa – Attendo, attendo, né a me giungon mai!
09. La Traviata, Act Iii-"Largo al quadrupede
10. La Traviata, Act Iii-"Signora…" / "che t'accadde?
11. La Traviata, Act Iii-"Ah, non più! – Ah, gran Dio! Morir sì giovine
12. La Traviata, Act Iii-"Ah, Violetta!" – "voi, Signor?