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Verdi: La Traviata / Oropesa, Oren, Dresden Philharmonic
PENTATONE

Verdi: La Traviata / Oropesa, Oren, Dresden Philharmonic

$32.99

Details

Composer
Giuseppe Verdi
Artist
Dresdner Philharmonie, Lisette Oropesa, Rene Barbera, Ilseyar Khayrullova, Lester Lynch, Alexander K
Format
SACD
Label
PENTATONE
Released
May 27, 2022
Catalog #
PTC5186956
UPC
827949095665

About

Featured in the New York Times' "5 Classical Albums You Can Listen To Right Now"

The Dresdener Philharmonie, Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden and conductor Daniel Oren present Verdi’s masterpiece La Traviata, together with a stellar cast including René Barbera as Alfredo, Lester Lynch as Germont, and world star soprano Lisette Oropesa as Violetta. Verdi’s opera from 1853 was revolutionary in the sense that it presented a subject of its own time, rather than the usual historically-remote stories. Interestingly enough, this tragic story of a woman sacrificing her love to save the honor of her beloved’s family still feels as fresh and topical as ever before, explaining its unrelenting popularity. La Travatia is an endless outpour of memorable melodies with a gripping dramatic pace, as well as a tale that is both heartrending and provocative. The main soprano role gradually shifts from coloratura virtuosity to a more lyrical, dramatic idiom when the tragedy progresses, and this performance shows Oropesa’s fluency in both styles. After having sung the title role in the greatest opera houses worldwide, this studio recording captures her unparalleled interpretation for generations to come. Star soprano Lisette Oropesa made her PENTATONE debut with Ombra Compagna; Mozart Concert Arias in 2021. Lester Lynch has a vast PENTATONE discography, including Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, La Fanciulla del West (both 2021) and Il Tabarro (2020), as well as Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana (2020) and Verdi’s Otello (2017). The Dresdener Philharmonie featured on those recordings of Puccini’s Il Tabarro and Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, while also releasing acclaimed recordings of Beethoven’s Fidelio (2021) and Weber’s Der Freischütz (2019) on PENTATONE. Daniel Oren and René Barbera, who both enjoy a thriving career on the operatic stage, make their PENTATONE debut.

REVIEW:

Daniel Oren, now in his mid-sixties, has had an important international career since he won first prize in the first Herbert von Karajan Conducting Competition in 1975. He knows how to build up the prelude from an atmospheric murmuring of the strings to the caressing love theme and then back to a soft end, but as the curtain opens, he shifts gear to a swift, exuberant party mood where everyone is in high spirits. Maybe the rhythms are too accentuated, too rustic for a Parisian upper-class festivity, but one feels the pulsating fervour.

Alfredo sings his Brindisi with his light lyric tenor and Violetta responds with easy effortless tones. Un di, felice is soft, almost dreamlike and very sensitively nuanced, and then comes Violetta’s grand aria: È strano, sensitively, almost hesitatingly, stunned by the sudden feeling of love she has never experienced before; Ah! fors'è lui, beautifully sung and filled with expectations; then she has second thoughts: Follie – This is madness – Sempre libera – Free and aimless I shall flutter. But when she repeats this stanza, she hears Alfredo echo her words from earlier, and even though she adheres to her decision we know that love is going to win...It was a long time since I was so spellbound by this scene.

The playing of the orchestra cannot be faulted and Pentatone’s sound staff deliver an expert recording. Lisette Oropesa...should be heard by every lover of this opera.

-- MusicWeb International

Lisette Oropesa makes for a lovely Violetta, with a quick, touchingly fragile vibrato and a jewel-like voice that catches light in beautiful ways. She can dash off high D flats as a steely, love-averse courtesan in Act I, and move a solo oboe to tears in “Addio del passato” come Act III.

Daniel Oren, more interested in small gestures than gleaming sound, begins the first scene with bumptious brasses and a breakneck tempo that make the room spin, spelling disaster for Verdi’s hard-partying demimondaine. Unwritten flourishes — a crescendo here, some rubato there — add to the impetuous atmosphere.

“La Traviata” rises or falls on the strength of its heroine, and this one soars.

-- New York Times (Oussama Zahr)

Tracklist 25 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Act I: Prelude 03:49
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I: Prelude
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  3. 2 Act I: Dell'invito trascorsa è gia l'orà (Chorus, Violetta, Flora, Marchese, Barone, Dottore, Gastone, Alfredo) 04:40
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I: Dell'invito trascorsa è gia l'orà (Chorus, Violetta, Flora, Marchese, Barone, Dottore, Gastone, Alfredo)
    Duration
    04:40
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lisette Oropesa, Ilseyar Khayrullova, Biagio Pizzuti, Allen Boxer, Alexander Köpeczy, Francesco Pittari, René Barbera
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  4. 3 Act I: Libiamo, ne' lieti calci, "Brindisi" (Drinking Song) (Alfredo, Flora, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus, Violetta) 03:00
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I: Libiamo, ne' lieti calci, "Brindisi" (Drinking Song) (Alfredo, Flora, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus, Violetta)
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    René Barbera, Ilseyar Khayrullova, Francesco Pittari, Allen Boxer, Alexander Köpeczy, Biagio Pizzuti, Lisette Oropesa
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  5. 4 Act I: Waltz: Chè e ciò? - Duet: Un dì, felice, eterea (Flora, Alfredo, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus, Violetta) 07:21
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I: Waltz: Chè e ciò? - Duet: Un dì, felice, eterea (Flora, Alfredo, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus, Violetta)
    Duration
    07:21
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Ilseyar Khayrullova, René Barbera, Francesco Pittari, Allen Boxer, Alexander Köpeczy, Biagio Pizzuti, Lisette Oropesa
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  6. 5 Act I: Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora (Flora, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus) 01:45
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I: Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora (Flora, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Ilseyar Khayrullova, Francesco Pittari, Allen Boxer, Alexander Köpeczy, Biagio Pizzuti
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  7. 6 Act I: È strano! - Ah, fors'è lui (Violetta, Alfredo) 11:35
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I: È strano! - Ah, fors'è lui (Violetta, Alfredo)
    Duration
    11:35
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lisette Oropesa, René Barbera
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  8. 7 Act II Scene 1: Lunge da lei - De' miei bollenti spiriti (Alfredo, Annina) 07:27
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Lunge da lei - De' miei bollenti spiriti (Alfredo, Annina)
    Duration
    07:27
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    René Barbera, Menna Cazel
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  9. 8 Act II Scene 1: Alfredo? - Pura siccome un angelo - Ah! Dite alla giovine (Violetta, Annina, Giuseppe, Germont) 21:32
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Alfredo? - Pura siccome un angelo - Ah! Dite alla giovine (Violetta, Annina, Giuseppe, Germont)
    Duration
    21:32
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lisette Oropesa, Menna Cazel, Tobias Schrader, Lester Lynch
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  10. 9 Act II Scene 1: Dammi tu forza, o cielo! - Amami, Alfredo (Violetta, Annina, Alfredo) 04:36
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Dammi tu forza, o cielo! - Amami, Alfredo (Violetta, Annina, Alfredo)
    Duration
    04:36
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lisette Oropesa, Menna Cazel, René Barbera
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  11. Disc 2
  12. 1 Act II Scene 1: Ah, vive sol quel core - Di Provenza il mar (Alfredo, Giuseppe, Commissionario, Germont) 11:10
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Ah, vive sol quel core - Di Provenza il mar (Alfredo, Giuseppe, Commissionario, Germont)
    Duration
    11:10
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    René Barbera, Tobias Schrader, Alexander Födisch, Lester Lynch
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  13. 2 Act II Scene 2: Avrem lieta di maschere la notte (Flora, Marchese, Dottore) 01:02
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Avrem lieta di maschere la notte (Flora, Marchese, Dottore)
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Ilseyar Khayrullova, Biagio Pizzuti, Alexander Köpeczy
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  14. 3 Act II Scene 2: Noi siamo zingarelle (Chorus, Marchese, Flora, Dottore) 02:54
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Noi siamo zingarelle (Chorus, Marchese, Flora, Dottore)
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Biagio Pizzuti, Ilseyar Khayrullova, Alexander Köpeczy
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  15. 4 Act II Scene 2: Di Madride noi siam mattadori (Gastone, Chorus, Flora, Dottore, Marchese) 02:51
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Di Madride noi siam mattadori (Gastone, Chorus, Flora, Dottore, Marchese)
    Duration
    02:51
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Francesco Pittari, Ilseyar Khayrullova, Alexander Köpeczy, Biagio Pizzuti
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  16. 5 Act II Scene 2: Alfredo! Voi! (Flora, Gastone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus, Alfredo, Barone) 00:34
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Alfredo! Voi! (Flora, Gastone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus, Alfredo, Barone)
    Duration
    00:34
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Ilseyar Khayrullova, Francesco Pittari, Alexander Köpeczy, Biagio Pizzuti, René Barbera, Allen Boxer
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  17. 6 Act II Scene 2: Qui desiata giungi (Flora, Violetta, Barone, Alfredo, Gastone, Marchese, Chorus, Dottore, Servo) 03:49
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Qui desiata giungi (Flora, Violetta, Barone, Alfredo, Gastone, Marchese, Chorus, Dottore, Servo)
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Ilseyar Khayrullova, Lisette Oropesa, Allen Boxer, René Barbera, Francesco Pittari, Biagio Pizzuti, Alexander Köpeczy, Reinhold Schreyer-Morlock
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  18. 7 Act II Scene 2: Invitato a qui seguirmi (Violetta, Alfredo, Flora, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus) 04:00
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Invitato a qui seguirmi (Violetta, Alfredo, Flora, Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lisette Oropesa, René Barbera, Ilseyar Khayrullova, Francesco Pittari, Allen Boxer, Alexander Köpeczy, Biagio Pizzuti
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  19. 8 Act II Scene 2: Oh, infamia orribile (Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus) 00:31
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Oh, infamia orribile (Gastone, Barone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus)
    Duration
    00:31
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Francesco Pittari, Allen Boxer, Alexander Köpeczy, Biagio Pizzuti
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  20. 9 Act II Scene 2: Di sprezzo degno sè stesso rende (Germont, Alfredo, Flora, Gastone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus, Barone, Violetta) 06:34
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Di sprezzo degno sè stesso rende (Germont, Alfredo, Flora, Gastone, Dottore, Marchese, Chorus, Barone, Violetta)
    Duration
    06:34
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lester Lynch, René Barbera, Ilseyar Khayrullova, Francesco Pittari, Alexander Köpeczy, Biagio Pizzuti, Allen Boxer, Lisette Oropesa
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  21. 10 Act III: Prelude 03:42
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act III: Prelude
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  22. 11 Act III: Annina? … Comandate? (Violetta, Annina, Dottore) 04:43
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act III: Annina? … Comandate? (Violetta, Annina, Dottore)
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lisette Oropesa, Menna Cazel, Alexander Köpeczy
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  23. 12 Act III: Teneste la promessa… - Attendo, attendo (Violetta) 06:22
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act III: Teneste la promessa… - Attendo, attendo (Violetta)
    Duration
    06:22
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lisette Oropesa
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  24. 13 Act III: Addio, del passato (Violetta) 01:44
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act III: Addio, del passato (Violetta)
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lisette Oropesa
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  25. 14 Act III: Largo al quadrupede (Chorus) 00:54
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act III: Largo al quadrupede (Chorus)
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Ensemble
    Dresden Saxon State Opera Chorus, Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  26. 15 Act III: Signora! … Che t'accadde? - Parigi, o cara (Annina, Violetta, Alfredo) 11:54
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act III: Signora! … Che t'accadde? - Parigi, o cara (Annina, Violetta, Alfredo)
    Duration
    11:54
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Menna Cazel, Lisette Oropesa, René Barbera
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren
  27. 16 Act III: Ah, Violetta! … Voi, Signor! (Germont, Violetta, Alfredo, Annina, Dottore) 06:22
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act III: Ah, Violetta! … Voi, Signor! (Germont, Violetta, Alfredo, Annina, Dottore)
    Duration
    06:22
    Composer
    Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer
    Lester Lynch, Lisette Oropesa, René Barbera, Menna Cazel, Alexander Köpeczy
    Ensemble
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Daniel Oren