Very nice documentary of this grand opera. La Traviata is my first opera I saw and I'm very happy it was such a masterpiece of music. Gabriela sings and acts marvelous. I love her! I can't wait to see and listen her again. Edgaras voice makes her shining. I wander if there is a complete opera sang by them. If not, maybe it is an idea to make one. Amanda and Tom are very warm and nice to listen them. I can see their love of discovering the stories behind the scene, the effort and feelings of all people touched by this spectacle. The combination between music and stories was fine. They have sang specially for this documentary? I think it was a great idea. Thank you for this video to all of them. I enjoyed very much! Bogdan
2 Reviews
An Account of the Origins and First British Performance of Verdi's Classic Based on Dumas's La Dame Aux Camelias
l_rawjalaurence11 April 2016
Based on Alexandre Dumas the Younger's notorious novel and melodrama LA DAME AUX CAMELIAS, LA TRAVIATA first saw the light of day in Venice in 1853. Three years later it premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in the center of London and caused a furor in its portrayal of a prostitute trying to cope in an unfeeling and overwhelmingly patriarchal world.
Presented by music broadcaster Tom Service and historian Amanda Vickery, this documentary looked at the opera's origins, both musically as well as textually, and tried to reconstruct the first performance through location filming, as well as having the presenters visit various archives.
The content was especially illuminating, as we discovered how Verdi, as well as the impresario involved in the London production challenged established conventions of femininity as well as pointing out the hypocrisies underlying many Victorian approaches to prostitution. LA TRAVIATA retains much of its significance today, as it portrays a central female character taking control of her life, despite the best attempts of her lover (and his family) to control it.
There were one or two jarring elements. Vickery undoubtedly has a telegenic personality, but she should do something about her choice of clothing as well as her hair-style. The sight of lank strands of hair partly obscuring her face proved disconcerting. There was also the problem of historical accuracy; although describing a performance taking place at Her Majesty's Theatre, much of the location filming was done in London's Haymarket Theatre, which is (and was) a different theater altogether, situated opposite Her Majesty's. It would have been prudent for the filmmakers to point this out.
Presented by music broadcaster Tom Service and historian Amanda Vickery, this documentary looked at the opera's origins, both musically as well as textually, and tried to reconstruct the first performance through location filming, as well as having the presenters visit various archives.
The content was especially illuminating, as we discovered how Verdi, as well as the impresario involved in the London production challenged established conventions of femininity as well as pointing out the hypocrisies underlying many Victorian approaches to prostitution. LA TRAVIATA retains much of its significance today, as it portrays a central female character taking control of her life, despite the best attempts of her lover (and his family) to control it.
There were one or two jarring elements. Vickery undoubtedly has a telegenic personality, but she should do something about her choice of clothing as well as her hair-style. The sight of lank strands of hair partly obscuring her face proved disconcerting. There was also the problem of historical accuracy; although describing a performance taking place at Her Majesty's Theatre, much of the location filming was done in London's Haymarket Theatre, which is (and was) a different theater altogether, situated opposite Her Majesty's. It would have been prudent for the filmmakers to point this out.
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