Franco Zeffirelli: La Traviata

Paris, c. 1850. The consumptive courtesan Violetta has won the love of Alfredo, but is reluctant to commit herself entirely to him. But after living with Alfredo for several months, Violetta is surprised one day by Alfredo's father Germont. He begs Violetta to break off this scandalous relationship which is endangering his daughter's marriage. Violetta agrees. After she has left, Alfredo is handed a letter from her declaring that they must part. Sure of finding Violetta at a party given by her friend Flora, Alfredo arrives there to find Violetta in the company of her former protector, Baron Douphol. Furious, Alfredo flings money at her as repayment for what she has spent on him. A few weeks later, Violetta falls seriously ill. In a letter to her, Germont admits that he told his son about her sacrifice; Alfredo rushes to her side and begs forgiveness. Violetta finds the strength to rise to her feet, but collapses, dying in Alfredo's arms.


"Music and story are vital but we also have the good fortune of having two of the best opera performers in the film. Placido Domingo is as talented an actor as he is a tenor and Teresa Stratas, in the Camille role, has a virtual consensus as the most electric actress and soprano in lyric entertainment. It takes all of these elements to fill cinemas in the US, and we have them all." (Zeffirelli in einem Interview mit Variety)

"If anyone can make opera accessible, it is Franco Zeffirelli. If it will bring my parents to see 'La Traviata' and other operas they have never seen before, it is worth everything I have given to this performance." (Teresa Stratas in einem Interview mit Variety)

"As could be expected, Franzo Zeffirelli's film production of 'La Traviata' is a surpassingly voluptuous affair, a spinning wheel of colors and textures. [...] Stratas strikes just the right balance between emotional grandeur and physical weekness... Domingo offers an Alfredo of experienced sophistication, a man who, having sampled everything, recognizes his perfect love match when he sees it." (Variety, 15.12.1982)