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The Dresden Philharmonic, the Saxon State Opera Chorus Dresden and conductor Daniel Oren present Verdi’s masterpiece La Traviata with a top-notch cast, including René Barbera as Alfredo, Lester Lynch as Germont and world-star soprano Lisette Oropesa as Violetta. Verdi’s 1853 opera was revolutionary in that it took a theme from its own time rather than the usual historically distant stories. Interestingly, this tragic tale of a woman who sacrifices her love to save the honor of her lover’s family still seems as fresh and relevant as ever, which explains its unwavering popularity. La Traviata is an endless outpouring of unforgettable melodies with a gripping dramatic tempo as well as a story that is both heartbreaking and provocative. The lead soprano role gradually shifts from coloratura virtuosity to a more lyrical, dramatic idiom as the tragedy unfolds, and this performance demonstrates Oropesa’s fluency in both styles. Having sung the title role in the world’s greatest opera houses, this studio recording captures her incomparable interpretation for future generations. Reviews BBC Music Magazine July 2022 “A lighter-voiced Violetta than many, leaning more towards the lyric than the dramatic, she sings with a consistent, shimmering beauty, effortless legato and an endearing sense of character…There are many competing interpretations, many by classic casts of the past, but do find space in your collection for this new Traviata – and witness the blossoming of a soprano who is possibly the Violetta of our day. – 5 out of 5 stars Fanfare Nov/Dec 2022 “Oropesa is a superb Violetta…what one remembers above all about her Violetta is how beautifully sung it is. Oropesa is in complete command of the coloratura in “Sempre libera,” including a brilliant high E♭ to cap it off. Most impressive is her ability to balance dramatic expression with a beautiful legato, as in “Dite alla giovine” and “Addio del passato.”…one of the most satisfying portrayals in years. Gramophone Magazine September 2022 “Oropesa represents a break from the Violettas of decades past with her clean vocalism and way of inhabiting the role from within, minus a lot of external emotional signalling. Presto Music May 2022 “The passion and pathos of Oropesa’s vivid, truly three-dimensional Violetta registers just as keenly on this studio-recording as it does on stage, and the sheer gorgeousness of her singing (from the manic pyrotechnics which close Act One to the exquisite floated top A at the end of ‘Addio del passato’) is the worth the price of the set alone. Barbera’s elegant, if rather light-voiced Alfredo is an ideal foil, and Lynch matches her emotional investment to the hilt in their great confrontation-scene. |
