July 2006
Villazon provides an energetic and impetuous portrayal of Violettas lover, Alfredo Germont, that is superbly vocalized and passionately acted. Thomas Hampson, as Alfredos father, is, and sounds, more mature than Netreboko and Villazon, so that the generation gap between them in the opera is quite believable, but he also sounds tentative and ill at ease in this repertory. His voice sounds threadbare where it needs to sound rich and full. The chorus is flawless and adds a lot of sparkle to Act I and the second scene of Act II. Conductor Carlo Rizzi leads in an alert, empathetic, and spirited manner, drawing superb results from his Viennese musicians. The recorded sound is ideal. The voices are clear, the orchestra warm and focused, and the offstage effects ideally balanced. This is one of the best new recordings of a familiar opera to come along in years. GO BACK TO: |