Violetta Valéry of “La Traviata” has always been one of Maria Callas’s most important roles and this Covent Garden 1958 performance is perhaps one of Maria Callas’s finest interpretations of Violetta.

The role of Alfredo Germont is sung by Cesare Valletti, who was defined by Maria Callas expert John Ardoin as an “almost ideal Alfredo”.

“It’s very important to be able to identify with the character that one is interpreting. When I play Violetta, I am Violetta, I, Maria Callas, no longer exist, I live and I die with my character.” Maria Callas