Virginia Zeani-Violetta Supreme- "Ah, fors' e lui" La Traviata Verdi

Virginia Zeani as Violetta, in her greatest role which she sang, and lived, an amazing 648 times.

This is mimed to a pre-recorded track and so gives only a shadow of the stunning impression she made in live performance. But even so this is very impressive.

A complete live audio performance is avaiiable on this Channel of Zeani's extraordinary unrehearsed Covent Garden Debut, with many photographs and drawings.

The only truly live opera movie videos are from an amateur recording of "L'altra notte" and "Ritorna Vincitor" and a fragment of Aida plus the RAI Poulenc excerpt from "La Voix Humaine".

However on this YouTube channel there is a delightful movie of excerpts from "The Merry Widow" filmed live by RAI in 1963. This gives a genuine impression of Zeani's enchanting stage presence, and the VIlja aria hints at the intensity and poise she brought to Violetta's great aria "Ah, fors' e lui".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Italian
• Opea
• Verdi
• La
• Dame
• aux
• Camelias
• Zeani
• Callas
• Sopranos

[CharlotteinWeimar]

NB June 2011 A short excerpt from a live film of La Traviata from Romania has just appeared and is now posted on my channel. As there are excerpts from Act 1 and Act 3 there must be more . .

[CharlotteinWeimar]

At long, long last a major article will be published in OPERA magazine in November 2009 entitled THE LEGENDARY VIRGINIA ZEANI.

[basenjidiva]

I must have watched and listened to this at least a thousand times; each time is better than the last! Every gesture, expression, pharse & sound is a wonder unto itself! Zeani is incomparable! Devastatingly gorgeous, incredibly talented, she is the most bewitching, totally intoxicating, utterly magnificent creature I've even seen take the stage!

Bravaaaa, Virginia! You are absolutely breathtaking! Sempre Gioia, cara Diva!

Thank you, CharlotteinWeimar, for this very precious gift!

[LutzKranenborg]

Truly wonderful. Many thanks for sharing this!

[mariancostin]

Excelenta voce!

[bpicaud1]

You can add Madame Zeani to the long list of superlative singers who got the recognition of the public... and were quite ignored by the discographic firms, at the side of Adriana Maliponte, Sylvie Valayre, Leyla Gencer, Martine Dupuis, Magda Olivero... and so many others ( and it's true for the men ! ).

[MrGerdhal]

wow... this is even better than callas

[SiEtIn1]

@Agwii que impertinente tu comentario

[Webarton]

Lol such great singing! then you hear the tenor, with such a throaty sound. its a disturbing juxtaposition.

[Tenorbravo]

It is one of the best Violettas, I have ever heard!!!Gorgeous voice .

Her voice is to die for!!! Awesome performance. It is sad....... perfection like this is very difficult to find these days. A force of nature! Magnificent! ORIGINAL AND UNIQUE. Thank for posting this BEAUTIFUL performance of "Ah, fors' e lui" La Traviata by Verdi. Ms. Zeani " nació para cantar" La Traviata.

[leoniemikele]

Wow, a real find for me.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

@Ilesereine The sound is from the complete Romanian recording:Virginia Zeani, Neculce-Cartis, Elena Simionescu, Ion Buzea, Nicolae Herlea,Vasile Moldoveanu Romanian Opera Bucharest. Jean Bobescu. Electrecord, 1968, After 20 years singing the role she no longer takes the optional high E flat! It sounds far better on the YouTube posting from ariadna2006. I think the dubbed film was made during the 1970s when she was in her late forties Sadly there is no live movie of her as Violetta

[jdigiulio8]

Wonderful, just wonderful....My first time hearing this, thank you youtube!! William