Kleiber, the great Berlin-born conductor, finds a happy medium in his splendid "Traviata," with Ileana Cotrubas as Violetta and Plácido Domingo as Alfredo, both superb. His tempo for "Un dě felice" has a gentle gait, a bit slower than Toscaniniżs. The restraint allows the singers a little more room to stretch and bend the lines. As the voices blend during the final phrases, they sing with delectable pianissimo tenderness, especially Mr. Domingożs.

Our favorite recording, from Deutsche Grammophon, has a superb cast, that includes Romanian soprano Ileana Cotrubas as an incredibly touching Violetta, Plácido Domingo as Alfredo and Sherrill Milnes as Germont. Carlos Kleiber and the Bavarian State Opera orchestra stir up the passions as few others have on disc.

Enregistrement avec un trčs bel équilibre spectral, une bonne définition et une grande dynamique. Voix intégrées avec naturel . . . Fętons la dignement, et apprécions la qualité du transfert, supérieure, comme souvent dans la collection "Originals", ŕ celle des premiers CD parus.

. . . une vision de chef, fulgurante, dont le génie pousse vers la transcendance les trois protagonistes.