La Traviata

Verdi's perennial favorite is given the Eurotrash treatment in this 2011 production from the Graz Opera, with director Peter Konwitschny opting for modern costumes and a grubby, red-light updating that gives the narrative—about a dying prostitute who nobly casts off her lover at his father's urging—a tawdry feel. And Konwitschny's frantic staging of the action—mostly in front of a lurid burgundy curtain—emphasizes specious excitement at the expense of elegance. The musical side of the performance is simply not strong enough to overcome these visual deficiencies, except for one outstanding element: Marlis Petersen, who makes a vocally resplendent, dramatically compelling Violetta. But as the besotted Alfredo, Giuseppe Varano combines an unimpressive stage presence with a weak voice; and as the elder Germont, James Rutherford looks the part of a concerned parent but exhibits a gruff, wobbly baritone. To add to the woes, the orchestra sounds thin, and the playing under Tecwyn Evans is scrappy and undisciplined, perhaps because the frenetic staging mandates some breakneck tempos. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.0 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.0 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette. Despite Petersen's star turn, several fine mountings are already available on home video (see reviews in VL-9/11 and VL-1/09, in particular), making this an optional purchase, at best. (F. Swietek)