Angela Gheorghiu - Blu-ray video

“Best is Angela Gheorghiu's Violetta. Vocally, she shirks nothing, and her prodigious technique is up to every demand. She throws herself at the drama, exhibiting convincing body language as the feverish pleasure-seeker of Act I and the stricken woman of the last. As Alfredo, Ramón Vargas... presentable... so too is Roberto Frontali as his father, a diligent and thought-through portrayal... Immaculate playing from the Scala orchestra, and some sensitive conducting from Lorin Maazel…” BBC Music Magazine, November 2008 ****

“…such blemishes as occur in the Scala production are incidental to its general excellence and to the greatness of Angela Gheorghiu's Violetta. …here she is once again a true artist, the voice lovely as ever throughout most of its range, the expressive art in both singing and acting matured so that this portrayal is intensely moving and memorable. Maazel's conducting is a model of controlled flexibility, and the orchestra respond to him with unfailing precision. Visually, the production is a treat, the chorus handled unfussily as a collection of individuals, with the principal characters and their relationships given thoughtful and sensitive preparation.” Gramophone Magazine, April 2009

“The Germonts, son and father, are maddeningly stupid characters but decent, honest singers, the one (Ramón Vargas) not imaginative but capable of delicacy, the other (Roberto Frontali) clean-cut in his tone and modestly affecting in his aria. Maazel's conducting is a model of controlled flexibility, and the orchestra respond to him with unfailing precision. Visually, the production is a treat, the chorus handled unfussily as a collection of individuals, with the principal characters and their relationships given thoughtful and sensitive preparation. To be ranked with the Los Angeles production with Fleming and Villazón (see above): we should count ourselves a favoured generation to have both or the choice of either.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“The stage spectacle, as one would expect from this source, is full of colour...and the production overall is satisfying. Lorin Maazel directs his La Scala forces with vitality and warmth and there is excellent camera control.”” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition ***

“Pappano's mastery of Puccinian pace and phrasing intensifies this turbulent score's onward surge, but he's also noticeable attentive to his singers...[Kaufmann's] cries of 'Vittoria!' are thrilling...and his acting never slackens...Tosca's mercurial character seems to resonate with [Gheorghiu] naturally...There are some decent Toscas on DVD already, but I'd start here.” BBC Music Magazine, February 2013 *****

“Gheorghiu makes a credible character out of Tosca...her voice keeps its beauty at all but the most high-pressure moments...Kaufmann scores a complete success as Cavaradossi...What he lacks in Italianate open tone, he makes up in brooding, dark colours...Neither of them would be likely to get the better of Bryn Terfel's bully of a Scarpia...The other dominant personality is Antonio Pappano, whose Puccini has never sounded better” Gramophone Magazine, January 2013

“Best is Angela Gheorghiu's Violetta. Vocally, she shirks nothing, and her prodigious technique is up to every demand. She throws herself at the drama, exhibiting convincing body language as the feverish pleasure-seeker of Act I and the stricken woman of the last. As Alfredo, Ramón Vargas... presentable... so too is Roberto Frontali as his father, a diligent and thought-through portrayal... Immaculate playing from the Scala orchestra, and some sensitive conducting from Lorin Maazel…” BBC Music Magazine, November 2008 ****

“The Germonts, son and father, are maddeningly stupid characters but decent, honest singers, the one (Ramón Vargas) not imaginative but capable of delicacy, the other (Roberto Frontali) clean-cut in his tone and modestly affecting in his aria. Maazel's conducting is a model of controlled flexibility, and the orchestra respond to him with unfailing precision. Visually, the production is a treat, the chorus handled unfussily as a collection of individuals, with the principal characters and their relationships given thoughtful and sensitive preparation.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“such blemishes as occur in the Scala production are incidental to its general excellence and to the greatness of Angela Gheorghiu's Violetta. …here she is once again a true artist, the voice lovely as ever throughout most of its range, the expressive art in both singing and acting matured so that this portrayal is intensely moving and memorable. Maazel's conducting is a model of controlled flexibility, and the orchestra respond to him with unfailing precision. Visually, the production is a treat, the chorus handled unfussily as a collection of individuals, with the principal characters and their relationships given thoughtful and sensitive preparation.” Gramophone Magazine, April 2009

“the stage spectacle, as one would expect from this source, is full of colour...and the production overall is satisfying. Lorin Maazel directs his La Scala forces with vitality and warmth and there is excellent camera control.” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition ***