Sempre Libera - Traviata Appendix- Edita Gruberova

[OperaMystery80]

Although Gruberova's a very gifted coloratura soprano, I don't like her as Violetta. This Sempre Libera seems to be on hyper speed and an Olympic athlete feat. Listen instead to the warmer, more human and expressive Violettas of Callas, Zeani Scotto, Freni, Sills, Stratas, Gheorghiu and Vaness. I agree with MastersofheOpera who commented that Violetta is better suited to a dramatic lyric voice rather than a small coloratura soprano

[Loismustdie26]

@OperaMystery80 SempL is an aria with a lot of tension, like a smoker trying to convince herself that she doesn't actually want that cigarette, the words are calm, but she is anything but. With the exception of Callas and Zeani, other slower versions of this aria seem to have a harder time creating this tension without the speed. (Almost) all of your suggestions are great Violettas. For the roll in general I'd rather a DS rather than a CS, but not here. And in EG does a great job in the roll.

[OperaMystery80]

@Loismustdie26 I've been listening to more Traviata recordings & video performances. 2 months ago I was saying that dramatic lyrics do better Violettas. I correct myself and now prefer purely lyric voices as Violetta. But not all are to my tastes. Fleming is atrocious, Gheorghiu is too sharp (I used to like her), Stratas did it well in her younger days but not in the '82 Zefereli fiilm. I adore Moffo & Sills as Violetta.

[Loismustdie26]

@OperaMystery80 Interesting, I haven't spent much time with lyrics in the roll. I saw Dessay in Santa Fe in the roll, but I was too young at the time to really have a good understanding. I'll check out Sills and Moffo though, I do adore both of them.

And yes, Fleming is just poorly cast in the roll, and Gheorghiu was ok in the early 90s but her voice has cracked and flamed out years ago.

[OperaMystery80]

@Loismustdie26 By the way I love how you compare Sempre Libera to a smoker trying to talk themselves out of smoking. Or like an alcoholic fighting his desire for a drink. Violetta's conflicted about whether she should return Alfredo's love and be in a committed relationship based on pure love or continue her party lifestyle. Great description. Don't you just love La Traviata ? I first saw it when I was 21 and I'm now 31 and I love it never tire of it

[13100valleyheart]

Edita is absolutely stunning!

[MastersoftheOpera]

Gruberova's Violetta is fine - excellent technique and acting style. Her trill seems odd & I prefer Violetta to sound more real, warm, fragile and a tad strong. Hers is of the "stand there and sing" type of stuff, but this is very common (Joan Sutherland did that too as did Leontyne Price). Love her costume and the background/production design.

[Royalorgans]

Joan Sutherland is far superior than Edita Gruberova. Joan Sutherland and Maria Callas sing this 100 times better than gruberova.

[thomastmwc]

though I'm a Sutherland BIG fan......I cant agree with u.....

[Loismustdie26]

....wow, I'd forgotten how good this was.... bravo

[KissaMyEyes]

Do you know the year of this recording? Carreras + Gruberova = Traviata Dream Team.

[chrizosthemis]

1980, 1982 or 1985 (according OPERADIS)

[latraviata69]

@KissaMyEyes I think thats Vienna 1980

[parker930]

Nobody singing this role today, dose it this well. Brava Edita!

[FIRSTENOR18]

I personally favor her over Sutherland!

[DiegoMartinazzoli]

@FIRSTENOR18 Me, too!!

[Loismustdie26]

does anyone know who the tenor is?

[hoffschauer]

The tenor is Jose Carreras.

[turitsa]

Beautiful! Sends shivers down your spine!

[MisterSoprano]

Callas for sure was superb Violetta, but Edita sings beautifully this caballeta! Love her anyway! :)

[andara1987]

Agreed :)

[Mooorhe]

Brava!

[osmanferragi]

Che pena ! povera Violetta.Tuttte costoro cantano benissimo ma non hanno lo spessore e la drammaticità che il personaggio richiede.Ah, Maria....

[tantricsurfer]

What a singer! Thanks Edita.

[arturo8402]

I love Edita, this is great! and she is so cute!!

[poupounakis]

CALLAS was a dramatico coloratura...she was great Norma-Tosca-Lucia-and Violeta also as an act.....Gruberova here is great to listen not to see her act....Callas was something magic to she on stage....

[ChantantReve]

I thought she was a lyric coloratura who just chose to sing the heavier roles....?

[vivaldiano]

No!Violetta proprio non c'è...canterà bene quanto volete,ma il personaggio proprio non le appartiene:fa la solita manierata!

[DiegoMartinazzoli]

Se mi suggerisci una Violetta almeno decente, visto che la Gruberova dici che è inguardabile, mi fai un gran favore. Io a parte lei altre non ne trovo!!!

[zitto60]

Tu sei uno di quelli che non fanno altro che parlare e scrivere male su tutti i forum della Gruberova. Se non ti piace non ascoltarla e basta!! Noi sappiamo che lei é divina -- e a noi basta pure questo!!

[baritonobelcantista]

bravo... gruberova esta soprano es fantástica no me canso de repetirlo pero es un buen ejemplo a seguir

coloraturafan gracias por subir el video

[rambo2882]

CALLAS

[DiegoMartinazzoli]

Callas?? You must be kidding! Listen carefully to this

[kngiht84]

I would tell rambo to LOOK again ! How can he mistake Gruberova for Callas ?!?!?

[DiegoMartinazzoli]

Callas was a great Norma, a great Tosca, a great Carmen, a good Anna Bolena.....and so on.

I prefer a lighter and more virtuoso voice for a decent Violetta (Gruberova, then. Not Callas, of course)

[ua1907]

She is good, but doesn't have the exact character for Violetta, to me it is too much girl-like, not a femme fatal. But her high notes are absolutely faboulus.

[DiegoMartinazzoli]

She's perfect, as usual

[Klaudhius]

:O! She is amazing...

She surprises me with her Violetta... a very good performance :)

[Babs22h]

typical SCREAMerov. The scoop was yes a scoop but she can still hit the note thats impressive. Her coloratura did sound different kinda like a harmonica at times! singing 3 acting 1... Callas anyone...??? Dare Isay sUTHERLAND????

[forallyouknow]

Very, very nice! But I don't like how she's a little behind the orchestra in 1:25 - 1:36. And some of her coloratura isn't very focused--kind of spread out. And how she scooped the last note. Otherwise, WHOA.

[trumansf]

She is good, and she is so different from all the others, her casta diva is completely different from the static very Diva/Goddess like Caballe's interpretation which I love, and this is an example of a perfect coloratura!!! Brava!

[KatherineXIX]

Wow, she went really sharp without the orchestra at the beginning! Love her coloratura anyway.

[parker930]

Love it - Love it - Love it!!! All around wonderful performance. What singing-so exciting! The acting is just down-right excellent! Brava Edita!

[Elisabetta611]

Singing: 3

Acting: 1

[GliOminiVerdi]

I completely agree

[Dymension]

5/5

[camandrula]

qué maravilla. de que año?

[LaViolettaValery]

I adore you! GREAT, BRAVA, the best SEMPRE LIBERA ever!!!! THANK a LOT for this! BRAVA!!

[mikeopera]

RAVISHING! The voice takes off and soars with steely brilliance. Brava, brava, brava! 5/5

[dutchtallguy]

A younger Ms. Gruberova in this video (it seemes). A bit overacted. Vocally a 'piece of cake' for this coloratura soprano. 5/3

[fof1978]

Yeah, we are correct "Operadude32" :) 1992 with the tenor Neil and Rizzi conducting. She is almost having to much fun! hahaha

[coloraturafan]

No this isn't that performance. This is from Vienna. This isn't from an actual performance, it is from a show of opera highlights. I believe this is 1985. It might be earlier. I am not sure on the tenor, there was also a duet from Traviata with José Carreras in the same performance.

[fof1978]

Ah, Im sry! Of course it isnt! Dont know what I was thinking...

[operadude32]

Si, si it's Carreras! Now that I listen to it for a second time.

[lassisimo]

@coloraturafan You wrote this 3 years before and maybe it isn´t important- but i know the performance serie: yes, it is Vienna, January 1985 with Carreras (Alfredo) and Wolfgang Brendel (Germont). I´m sorry for my interference !

[Iatraviata69]

@coloraturafan I remember she sang with him 1981.

[operadude32]

Thanks for posting this clip! She is absolutely brilliant here. I believe that Alfredo is sung by Neil Shicoff. 5/5

[fof1978]

5/5

If Im not totally misstaken this should be late 80s? Her voice sounds the same as the 92 recording with Carlo Rizzi.

[primadonna13]

Wow!! I was surprised! She does not have any of the many annoying mannerisms that she has now and her voice sounds a lot better!! When was this?

4/5

[hotazzoperastud]

This is great! Edita is so young here, I am wondering what the year is? I am guessing early 80's? Either way, the voice is fresh the coloratura polished, and she really looks like she is having a fun night.