Franco Zeffirelli: La Traviata

Дзеффирелли: Травиата

The poignant story of the "woman gone astray" in a sumptuous production by Franco Zeffirelli.

Acclaimed film and stage director Franco Zeffirelli spared no costs to reproduce the opulent settings of Violetta Valéry's happiness and downfall. The unparalleled musical quality of the production is guaranteed by some of the world's foremost musicians: New York's Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, conductor James Levine and singers Teresa Stratas and Placido Domingo. As Violetta, Teresa Stratas strikes the right balance between emotional grandeur and physical weakness. And with his meltingly lyrical voice and magnetic stage presence, Placido Domingo embodies Alfredo Germont with a rarely seen passion.

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Actors

Violetta Valery

Teresa Stratas

Alfredo Germont

Placido Domingo

Giorgio Germont

Cornell MacNeil

Crew

Director

Franco Zeffirelli

Conductor

James Levine

Costume designer

Piero Tosi

About

Paris, c. 1850. The consumptive courtesan Violetta has won the love of Alfredo, but is reluctant to commit herself entirely to him. But after living with Alfredo for several months, Violetta is surprised one day by Alfredo's father Germont. He begs Violetta to break off this scandalous relationship which is endangering his daughter's marriage. Violetta agrees. After she has left, Alfredo is handed a letter from her declaring that they must part. Sure of finding Violetta at a party given by her friend Flora, Alfredo arrives there to find Violetta in the company of her former protector, Baron Douphol. Furious, Alfredo flings money at her as repayment for what she has spent on him. A few weeks later, Violetta falls seriously ill. In a letter to her, Germont admits that he told his son about her sacrifice; Alfredo rushes to her side and begs forgiveness. Violetta finds the strength to rise to her feet, but collapses, dying in Alfredo's arms.

"Music and story are vital but we also have the good fortune of having two of the best opera performers in the film. Placido Domingo is as talented an actor as he is a tenor and Teresa Stratas, in the Camille role, has a virtual consensus as the most electric actress and soprano in lyric entertainment. It takes all of these elements to fill cinemas in the US, and we have them all." (Zeffirelli in einem Interview mit Variety)

"If anyone can make opera accessible, it is Franco Zeffirelli. If it will bring my parents to see 'La Traviata' and other operas they have never seen before, it is worth everything I have given to this performance." (Teresa Stratas in einem Interview mit Variety)

"As could be expected, Franzo Zeffirelli's film production of 'La Traviata' is a surpassingly voluptuous affair, a spinning wheel of colors and textures. [...] Stratas strikes just the right balance between emotional grandeur and physical weekness... Domingo offers an Alfredo of experienced sophistication, a man who, having sampled everything, recognizes his perfect love match when he sees it." (Variety, 15.12.1982)

Special project

The magic of classics

There are performances that remain in history forever. Years pass, new stars appear, fashion changes, but these productions continue to live in the memory of the audience. The TheatreHD project "Magic of the Classics" is dedicated to just such time-tested works by the masters who continue to give the audience theatrical magic - and the magic of retro - even today. →

Awards

Academy Awards, USA, Nominee - Oscar (Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design)
BAFTA Awards - Best Production Design/Art Direction, Best Costume Design
Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists - Silver Ribbon (Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design)
Nominee Golden Globe - Best Foreign Film