First up a confession - I absolutely love this opera and this disc brings the number to 11. They are:
* Zefferelli/Stratos/Domingo on laserdisc
* Solti/Gheorghiu on laserdisc
* Piave/Fabbricini (superb singing) on laserdis
* Callas on CD
* Carden & the Australian Opera Co on DVD
* Bonadelli at Rotterdam on DVD
* Mehta/Gruberova "La Traviata in Paris" on DVD
* Rizzi/Bruberova Venice production on DVD
* Rizzi/Netrebco on DVD (some dislike this and damn it as "Eurotrash" but OK by me)
* Fleming on Bluray
* Now the disc reviewed below on Bluray

COMPOSER: Verdi Disc Title: La Traviata

Disc catalog: ArtHaus 101 342 Recording Date: 2007 Program Length 132 mins A live Teatro alla Scala di Milano Production

Video rating: 5/5 Audio type: PCM Stereo DTS HD Master Audio Surround 7.1 Audio rating: 5/5 Overall rating: 5/5

Summary comment: Another excellent Bluray opera production of this opera to join others in this collection!

Detailed Comment: “La Traviata” is my favourite opera so be aware of some prejudice. It rarely fails to tear at the heartstrings and gives the lead soprano great opportunities for vocal and emotional display. And the lovely Angela Gheorghiu achieves all this in spades backed up very competently by Ramon Vargas and Robert Frontali. These two male singers perform very well although I would not claim they are the best available but I give full marks to Angela Gheorghiu to be at least as good as Fleming, Gruberova, Netrebo and others. I also have her performing this opera on laserdisc with Domingo where Solti was the conductor but this latest effort eclipses her earlier one.

As we have come to expect from Bluray the audio and video are top notch so the glorious orchestra music under Maazel's baton comes through beautifully. It seems this disc is being phased out so is now available at very reasonable prices so if you are tempted, hesitate no longer. Thoroughly recommended.

John