Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
La Traviata, opéra en 3 actes

Victoria de los Angeles
Santa Chissari
Silvia Bertone
Carlo Del Monte
Mario Sereni
Sergio Tedesco
Vico Polotto
Silvio Maionica
Ruggero Giaiotti
Renato Ercolani
Orchestre et chœur du Teatro dell'Opera de Rome
Tullio Serafin, direction

Despite being one of the most beautiful editions of the sixties, this recording of 1959 by Columbia is not available for many years . The three protagonists are nevertheless of great historical importance, especially the contribution of Victoria De Los Angeles, whose Violetta is pathetic and painful and far from the typical standards of this role at the time, as the dramatic approach of Maria Callas or the vocal splendor of Renata Tebaldi. The role of Alfredo is performed by Carlo Del Monte, incisive and proud, instead of the common lyric tenors. Fundamental then the presence of a clear baritone as Mario Sereni, who does not age the part of Germont up to make it appear a decrepit old man, which certainly is not. Last but not least the incomparable lesson of Tullio Serafin, who gives to the unhappy history of Violetta an absolute autumnal melancholy patina, without any sound hysteria and only handed over to the sweetness and sorrow.