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Giuseppe Verdi “La Traviata”

Great Guild (Latvia), April 2019 

Conductor – Michael Balke
Latvian Festival Orchestra
State Choir Latvija
Violetta – Marina Rebeka,
Alfredo – Charles Castronovo
Giorgio – George Petean, Flora – Elisabeth Sergeeva
Gastone – Gideon Poppe, Marchese – Isaac Galán
Barone – Rihards Močanovskis, Grenvil – Kiršjānis Norvelis
Annina – Laura Grecka, Giuseppe – Michails Čuļpajevs
Commissionario – Luca Martoni

Critic's Choice

A new studio recording of Verdi’s La Traviata is released by Prima Classic, soprano Marina Rebeka’s own label. Believed to be the first complete recording of the opera for 26 years not based on an existing production, it is certainly unprecedented for a small independent label to take on such a massive project so early in its existence. This studio recording, released on 1 November, is only Prima Classic’s third release and its first full opera.

Reviews

Her Violetta is first-rate, lyrical and even, bringing a spoken immediacy to her “dialogue” in Act I, yet agile and fluent in the coloratura. Her mid-range is soft-edged but clear; her top is brilliant. She finds more introspection in the character than most, including a reflective, questioning second verse of “Sempre libera.”

OPERA NEWS

Rebeka (…) makes Violetta quite human, moving between intimate moments and some finely dramatic ones, with a great cutting edge to the voice.

PLANET HUGILL

Rebeka je ve všech ohledech Violettou výtečnou, má šmrnc i výraz, koketnost i tragičnost v jejím okouzlujícím sopránu je vzrušující i odzbrojující zároveň (…) vše jakoby nešlo z plic, ale ze srdce a spontánnost.

ELEGANT CLASSICS

Marina Rebeka est assez éblouissante, il faut le dire, et déploie la majesté d’une souveraine, plus encore que la suprême aisance d’une demi-mondaine habituée à voir tous les hommes à ses pieds (…) tous les détails de la virtuosité sont finement ciselés.

FORUM OPERA

La vocalidad amplia, extensa y bien timbrada de Marina Rebeka se imponen en un papel que no es fácil (…) Su “Amami, Alfredo” es impactante y su lectura de la carta deja en mantillas a muchas ilustres colegas que prefieren el énfasis a la naturalidad.

ÓPERA ACTUAL