Opera HD

OPERA HD

The Metropolitan Opera, *Live in HD

Last night we joined friends for an evening at The Metropolitan Opera. No, we didn't take a taxi from our hotel. No, we didn't take the subway. And no, we didn't hire a limo. Instead, we drove to Burbank (yes, California), parked, then walked to AMC Burbank 16.

La Traviata, an opera in three acts, written by Giuseppe Verdi - with libretto by Francesco Maria Piave - is the story of a fallen woman who parties her life into the ground, so to speak. She falls in love with Alfredo, whose father, Giorgio (oh, so manipulative and misguided), demands that his son give up Violetta and return home. If he doesn't do as told, his sister's engagement is in jeopardy. And so the story continues. Alfredo leaves, thinking Violetta has abandoned him (she has done what any girl would do for love!). In the end, although it would seem that Violetta has gotten back together with her old flame, Baron Douphol, Alfredo finds her and they are reunited - however, too late. Violetta, ill from the beginning, succumbs.

The singing was sublime. Natalie Dessey sings with great passion and the quality of her voice is incredible. The tenor, Matthew Polenzani as Alfredo and Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Germont) were equally as stunning in their performances.
If you're not in New York City, the next best thing is Live in HD. 
For more information, please link to The Metropolitan Opera!