Leyla Gencer Archive

LA TRAVIATA

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)

Opera in three acts in Italian
Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave after Alexander Duma’s play La Dame aux Camélias
Premièr at Teatro la Fenice, Venice – 6 March 1853

07†, 09 August 1964

Teatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro

II. FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DO MUSICA E DANÇA

Conductor: Nicola Rescigno

Chorus master: Norberto Mola

Stage director: Carlo Maestrini

Scene: Mario Conde

Choreography: Dennis Gray

Alfredo Germont lover of Violetta FLAVIANO LABO tenor

Giorgio Germont his father PIERO CAPPUCILLI baritone
Gastone de Letorieres a young man about town NINO CRIMI tenor
Baron Douphol a rival of Alfredo ANTONIO LEMBO baritone
Marchese d’Obigny AMILTON MOREIRA bass
Dr. Grenvil n/a bass
Giuseppe servant to Violetta ERALDO DE MARCO tenor
Flora’s servant ERALDO DE MARCO tenor
Violetta Valery a courtesan LEYLA GENCER soprano
Flora Bervoix her friend ANA MARIA MARTINS mezzo-soprano
Annina Violetta’s confident and maid CARMEN PIMENTEL soprano
Un commissionario SERGIO NAPOLI
Un massaggero VLADIMIR DE KANEL

Time: 1850

Place: Paris and vicinity

† Recording date

Note: Leyla Gencer signed a contract for five performances for Otello to sing with Mario Del Monaco in the title role. But the production cancelled due to Del Monaco’s illness. As Gencer had a contract with the company Otello replaced with La Traviata (2 performances) and Verdi Requiem (2 performances).

LEYLA GENCER’S LA TRAVIATA SCORES

SIGHTSEEING IN RIO

1964 AUGUST

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.04.18

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS
1964.05.03

TRIBUNA

1964.06.04

TRIBUNA

1964.06.11

O JORNAL

1964.06.13

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS
1964.06.16

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.06.19

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.06.27

CORREIRO DA MANHA

1964.08.02

JORNAL DO BRASIL

1964.08.02

JORNAL DO COMMERCIO

1964.08.02

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.08.02

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.08.04

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.08.04

JORNAL DO BRASIL

1964.08.04

O JORNAL

1964.08.04

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.08.05

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.08.05

JORNAL DO BRASIL

1964.08.05

JORNAL DO BRASIL

1964.08.06

A NOITE

1964.08.07

JORNAL DO BRASIL

1964.08.07

CORREIRO DA MANHA

1964.08.09

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.08.09

JORNAL DO BRASIL

1964.08.09

O JORNAL

1964.08.09

JORNAL DO BRASIL

1964.08.11

JORNAL DO COMMERCIO

1964.08.12

DIARIO CARIOCA

1964.08.22

DIARIO CARIOCA

1964.08.26

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.09.14

OPERA NEWS

1964 October

Rio de Janeiro. La Traviata. on August 7, came near to disaster. Leyla Gencer's debut as Violetta could hardly have been more unfortunate, and she was unwise to sing immediately after her appearances in Norma and Simone Boccanegra in Buenos Aires. The voice sounded particularly heavy and tired at the top, her breath control was virtually non-existent and her breathing so loud that it became part of the music. The first act was so bad that the audience voiced their displeasure; but she improved after the coloratura passages were over and ended by giving a passable performance. She overdoes her pianissimo. however, and not always to good effect. The two Germonts were sung in truly Verdian fashion by Labo and Cappuccilli, both in fine form, with a masterful command of voice and style. Nicola Rescigno conducted with plenty of feeling and attack, but Maestrini's production was poor and routine.

DAIRIO DE NOTICIAS

1964.12.13