[G] Virginia Zeani Unrehearsed La Traviata Cov G Debut "Imponete

Virginia Zeani gave this thrilling, daring performance in 1960 when she was called up by Covent Garden as a last minute replacement for the indisposed Joan Sutherland. Having failed to cover Sutherland's first Lucia, the BBC planned well in advance to transmit a live, international broadcast of one of her first Traviatas, but she had a heavy cold and had to cancel, Zeani was tracked down in Vienna and after a sleepless night flew to Paris and then to London, arriving at the Royal Opera House at 4pm. This was her Covent Garden debut, but there was only just enough time for costume fittings and no time at all for any music rehearsal. She walked onto the stage at 7pm and had to ask "Which one is my Alfredo?" She was then introduced to the Scottish tenor William McAlpine.
In Acr II she literally met Giorgio Germont, and baritone Jess Walters, for the for the very first time. This scene concludes with her heartfelt farewell to Alfredo.
No photographs were available of the performance, so the illustrations show a portrait of William McAlpine as Alfredo and Peter Glossop as Giorgio Germont.
The paintings are from a later performance in 1960

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Virginia
• Zeani
• Italian
• Opera
• Verdi
• La
• Dame
• aux
• Camelias
• Camille
• Dumas

[MusicaParola]

Although she sang many roles successfully, Violetta was perhaps her calling card. In spite of -or perhaps due to- these circumstances, this is an unforgettable interpretation of this complex character. Musically and dramatically, she conquers all the challenges. Sutherland sang this role very well. Zeani did this, and more. She IS Violetta. Bravissima!

[CharlotteinWeimar]

I couldn't agree more. This is a revised posting with a photo of the actual Alfredo, WIlliam McAlpine.

[corellithebest]

Listening to this heartbreaking interpretation, Angela's Violetta at Covent Garden comes to my mind that is similarly passionate, because Virginia was her great artistic inspiration, especially for Violetta, and I can perfectly understand why!

[magghot]

one of the best..intensa...meravigliosame­nte reale e appassionata!

[Klassizismus]

IMO the "Amami Alfredo"-part is the most emotional part of the entire opera... followed by "Addio del passato" :)