This is a bracing reminder of how high musical standards were at English National Opera during the Charles Mackerras era. Diction is exemplary and all concerned sing with a fine level of bel canto polish. Anne Evans limns Violetta with an affecting combination of limpid lyric-soprano tone and spinto power. While not as Italianate, Keith Erwen's Alfredo is delivered with plenty of gumption and Geoffrey Chard is an exemplary Germont, sort of a Norman Bailey Lite. (Both men are allowed a verse of their cabalettas.) Standing out among the comprimarios are Norman Welsby's Baron Douphol, Shelagh Squires' uncommonly good Annina and Ann Hood's Flora. Mackerras brings the right degree of songfulness yet never permits the score to droop. The sound is unglamorous but clear.

Most of us are familiar with Anne Evans from the Barenboim/Kupfer Bayreuth Ring of the 1990s. Earlier in her career she focused on more lyrical roles and Violetta was one of her best. The voice itself is very beautiful, even from top to bottom, and capable of great intensity. Her Violetta is a capricious woman who matures into a true human being, made more whole by her love for Alfredo. Her "Sempre libera" is deftly sung (no, she doesn't interpolate an E-flat) and she has the vocal power for the final scene as well. She is a complete, very satisfying Violetta.Keith Erwen is an Alfredo worthy of this Violetta and Geoffrey Chard (a fine Australian baritone) is a terrific Germont, making his Act Two scene with Violetta the highlight of the performance. The other singers are all very good (the delectable Ann Hood used to sing leads for the D'Oyly Carte Company.) Mackerras leads most convincingly. He restores one verse each of Alfredo and Germont's cabalettas as well as giving us "Gran Dio, morir si giovine" complete. This was taken from an in-house source, but the voices were captured very clearly so most of Edmund Tracey's very singable translation comes through (it's essentially the same one used for the EMI studio recording with Valerie Masterson.) Traviata lovers need this - it's that good!