director franco zefferelli and star placido domingo and teresa stratas and cornell mcneil and conductor james levine and the metropolitan opera orchestra and 1982 the force behind this masterpiece be responsible for it greatness italian director and designer franco zefferelli and tenor placido domingo and soprano teresa stratas and baritone cornell mcneil . the singer be at the top of their game and domingo be a young and sexy alfredo and teresa stratas be violetta valery in a performance that even maria calla would envy . zefferelli and who have long claim he have a friendship with her and in truth he have be behind various opera production of hers and have maria calla in mind when he cast teresa stratas . like calla and stratas have a greek background through her parent though she be canadian born and have similar look and have the same type of dramatic voice and she be in zefferelli own word an electrify actress and soprano of the lyric entertainment . the callas connection be most obvious when stratas appear in a black veiled gown in act 2 at flora party where even her hair be similar to callas infamous 50 performance . release in 1982 and zefferelli seek to convert people into opera lover through the lush visual seduction of the cinema . this be exactly what he do . the cinematography of this film kill you with excessive beauty . the opening credit roll a we see scene of paris in the notre dame cathedral area and surround residential district by the seine river . the interior of violetta valery mansion and where she host the act 1 party and be luxurious and zefferelli allows u to be dizzy with the sheer opulence of the house gild mirror and portrait of violetta and curtain and chandelier etc . visually on film we be able to tell thing about the character that stage performance do not and for example a the guest depart from act 1 party and an old woman steal a silver box from violetta prove to u that violetta be not among real friend and these be only fair weather friend and bad one at that . they be not even there for her when she be die in the finale . also noteworthy be the cruel trick one have to catch on early on . violetta and alfredo be never reunite and a in the opera and but instead his return be a hallucination and she die alone in her apartment . the beginning of the film have violetta reminisce about the good day a a desirable and wealthy courtesan who partied all the time . she be deathly ill and already her house be sell and men be move her thing out . the country scene be incredibly beautiful a violetta and alfredo live happily in seclusion . alfredo rid his horse and violetta pick flower for her greenhouse and feed her white dove in their big cage . cornell mcneil bombastic but fatherly giorgio germont be a great support to the refined performance of domingo and stratas . the flora party scene be exceptional with even more visual beauty a gypsy and bullfighter dance seductively and professional gambler enjoy themselves . the closing ensemble be not to be miss and neither be the melancholy and tragic end . this be the great and ultimate version of la traviata ever make . it be a must have for opera fan and for curious non opera lover .