Verdi's La Traviata

Taped live at Venice’s Teatro La Fenice (where La Traviata premiered in 1853), Verdi’s La Traviata is a splendidly sung version of Verdi’s popular opera. Unlike Franco Zeffirelli’s cinematically opened-up 1982 movie, this one captures a strictly traditional staging with fluid camera work and sharp close-ups. Czech coloratura Edita Gruberova is vocally stunning, and American tenor Neil Shicoff daringly- refreshingly-makes lover-boy Alfredo a bit of a nerd. Only a ghastly act two ballet is substandard. B+