A boxed set of three of Netrebko's acclaimed performances at the Salzburg festivals contains Verdi's La Traviata, Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro (2 DVDs) and Puccini's La Boheme.
Following the issue of the 2013 performance of Il Trovatore (reviewed last week), this splendid triple set of operas presents reissues of DVDs released in previous years.
They provide a splendid opportunity to see the development of the Russian soprano's voice and acting abilities.
She made her debut at Salzburg in 2002 in Mozart's Don Giovanni displaying her dark and distinctive voice, a richly coloured lyric coloratura.
The oldest recording in this set is La Traviata, from 2005, with tenor Rolando Villazon as infatuated Alfredo, Netrebko as seductive Violette, who succumbs to tuberculosis, and baritone Thomas Hampton as Alfredo's father Giorgio Germont.
The young German star sings with fire and style in a lively characterisation, and the two male leads are both very skilled and professional.
Stark staging and multiple sofas help and Carlo Rizzi, conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, takes arias and duets at a brisk and urgent pace, underlining this opera as a gripping and revealing tragedy.
Filming is excellent, colour splashing from Violette's scarlet frock and the sofa covers.
A giant clock is a stage feature.
Highlight: Great treat for opera fans.
Watch this column for future reviews of Netrebko's DVDs in the two other operas.
