This 1991 La Traviata was
Luciano Pavarotti's second studio recording of the opera.
Pavarotti was still in strong voice, although he had lost some of his youthful flexibility, and this repertoire ideally suited him. He sings with warmth, strength, and passionate intensity.
Cheryl Studer makes a powerful impression as Violetta, largely because of her character development. She sings beautifully, with fullness and broad phrasing.
Juan Pons makes an exceptionally persuasive Germont; his anguished second act scene with Violetta is a high point of the recording.
James Levine leads the
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus in an intelligent and crisp, but unhurried, reading. Demonstrating the dangers of studio recording, there is a sense of stopping and starting between numbers and the opera's arc isn't always clear. Deutsche Grammophon's sound is clean and clear, but not particularly ambient.