Violetta meets Alfredo and quickly falls for him. After the lovers run away together, they live in bliss for a short time. However, Alfredo's father, Giorgio, starts to interfere, concerned that Violetta's bad reputation will affect the marriage prospects of Alfredo's sister. Violetta reluctantly leaves Alfredo, but his love is so strong that it leads him to actions that have tragic consequences.
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Conductor: James Levine
Stars: Teresa Stratas, Plácido Domingo, Cornell MacNeil.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084821/
First performance at Venice, March 6, 1853
Time: 1846
Place: Paris and the suburb Auteuil
I have too many productions of this opera already, and have already spotted another I might want.
This film is disappointing, because it is Zeffirelli. I was absolutely distracted throughout by the incredible wealth (home furnishings) amassed by the courtesan. Did one patron gift his entire palazzo to her? How does that opulence align with the plot point of her selling off all her country home possessions to pay the summer debts? Seems like she could do that with the contents of one mantle in the city home. And the country home is almost as opulent.
I was fine with the restructuring FZ did: opening with her on her death bed, then flashing back to happier times, bringing us up to date all in flashback. I like that we can go outdoors, or at least to outdoorish sets that would be too much transition onstage. But at the end, Alfredo, his father, the doctor, her maid are all absent. That seems too cruel; makes the immediately prior scene of reconciliation (too late) with Alfredo seem like a dream. So was it all a dream? Oh no no no.
The music is gorgeous, and so is Domingo (b. '41) both visually and aurally. Stratas is not really pretty enough for the role, but her voice is.
Now that I know of the inconsistencies/ differences in plot (Zeffirelli took a writing credit), perhaps the next viewing will be less distracting.
The 3 others I've noted about have lengths 2:13-2:15. Perhaps FZ cut quite a bit of music, which might account for such a low rating.
Rated 6.9 (1,246)
MetOpera, cond. Levine; 7+
