The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 32

32 THE BOSTON GLOBE FRIDAY. MAY 6. 1963 rijilllJ REVIXW I tAUZIZ iTraviata' has everything but Verdi mf REVIEW I I40VI1 til' i i TO- A the Paris Opera, and the country estate to which Violetta and Alfredo retreat for their brief Idyll of happiness looks like Yosemite National Park. Yes. Alfredo does try to coax Violetta across a stream, and yes, she does fall in.

and yes. she does pull him In after her. Just like in the movies. But for all of this. Zeffirelli has a positive genius for making sure that you don't get to see the things you most want to.

For the little Spanish dance in the third act. he brings on Ekater-ina Maksimova and Vladimir Vassilyev from the Bolshoi Ballet. Vassilyev begins whirring like an air-borne top. and Zeffirelli cuts away from him so that we can watch some Italian actors lip-synching the words of the chorus. At the supreme emotional moment of Violetta's life, when she agrees to renounce Alfredo so that his sister's marriage will not be compromised, the camera cuts away from her In order to give us cameo shots of the phantom life of the sister.

(Also at this moment Zeffirelli snips away a verse of Verdi's music, which is wanton and un-forgiveable. There are other, less significant, and even necessary cuts the dialogue at the beginning of the fourth act about how Violetta has only "twenty louis" left to her name is gone because she has obviously returned to Versailles to die.) There's some good singing from Domingo and even from MacNeil; Domingo also creates an appealing teddybear of a character. Teresa Stratas also sings exceptionally well, once she gets past the difficulties of the first act, and she is the one best thing about this niovie. Zeffirelli doesn't let us see enough of her face in closeup -he seems as interested in the lace on her nightie as in her emotional life; there are too many showy camera movements that establish that she Is a frail moth flying at the flame of life. But then he wouldn't dare let us look Stratas In the eye any more than he does, because her face Is the only thing in the movie that is always telling the truth, which Is what Verdi Is all about.

LA TRAVIATA Franco Zeffirelli's adaptation of Verdi's opera, at the Chert rated G. By Richard Dyer Qlobe Staff Franco Zeffirelli's film of Verdi's "La Tra-Yiata" passes in a delirium of decor. It Is a movie about colors and textures, about brocade and velvet and furniture and chandeliers and country pathways and the play of light across them. Only incidentally and occasionally is it about love, sacrifice and death, and the wonderful characters that Verdi's music creates. But Verdi is curiously peripheral In this film, despite the onscreen presence of famous opera stngers like Teresa Stratas.

Placido Domingo, ajid Cornell MacNeil and the presence of James Levine and the Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra on the soundtrack. They are all loud epough. of course, though the recorded balance between voices and orchestra is screwy and unnatural. But nothing makes its proper impact because everything you are looking at contra-djcts what you are listening to. I Everything in Verdi is as simple and direct in its means as it is complex in effect.

ZeffirelH. on the other hand, is not an artist but an and all the gorgeous clutter cannot conceal the poverty of his sensibility, which operates on the emotional level of a Harlequin Romance. He always gives you something to look at, but seldom anything to think about, or to feeU "Zeffirelli's view of the opera is the principal directorial cliche of the day: "La Traviata" is tire death-dream of its heroine. During the prelude we see workers shrouding the furniture and removing the paintings from her mansion; akyoung man gazes longingly at her portrait, wanders down the hall of mirrors to the room in which Violetta is dying, and catches a glimpse Lead singer Bono Vox scans the audience at the Orpheum Theater at last night's concert by Irish rock band, U2. globe photo by steve haines U2 chart a high course Placido Domingo as Alfredo and Teresa Stratas as Violetta in Zeffirelli's "La Traviata." of her.

She sees him too, and a vestige of the smile that once bewitched all of Paris flickers across her face. Then she too begins to wander down the hall until. In the mirror, she sees the glittering party at which she met Alfredo. So perhaps it is Violetta 's fevered imagination that is responsible for the excess that follows. Everything in Verdi's most intimate opera is bloated into the largest possible scale Violet-ta's friend Flora apparently lives in the lobby of U2 In concert with Someone and the Somebodies at the Orpheum Theater, through tonight.

By Jim Sullivan Special to The Globe There was. for me. a bit of trepidation involved with going back to see U2, Ireland's emerald of a rock band. The feeling came not from qualms about U2's new music, but from the habit too many rock bands have of disappointing longtime fans once they reach a certain level of careering. Success bites; inspiration wanes; formula rules.

The Clash, a band that once held the passion banner high, fell most glaringly last summer on TV COMEDY harmonized. "Don't worry baby, everything will turn out all right" U2s" concert last night again reached a rare, wondrous zone -where rock 'n' roll transcended the ordinary and took the audience on a lift that was equal parts spiritual and sensual. U2 are angelic upstarts. They arose out of the UK's post-punk movement where the sound was hard-edged, yet spatial but charted a course that was far more uplifting than their compatriots. Echo and the Bunnymen.

Joy Division, Teardrop Explodes and the Psychedelic Furs. U2 takes tension, anger and indecision, and bathes in a warming rock 'n' roll salve. Last night U2 began with "Gloria." a song that sounded a call for redemption, worked their way through personal and political struggles Bloody Sunday." "Seconds." "New Year's and closed with "I Will Follow." a song of hope, and "40," an elegaic tune with lyrics taken from the Bible's 40th Psalm. Singer Bono Vox has a desperate tone; his vocals sound like pleas and prayers, the lyrics failure and hope. More often than not, emotional conflicts turned Into shouts U2.

Page 34 KA)NNECTKJNJ 1 ittrut mmm itamutmamrtmw MMRm Cape Cod and In Boston. U2, who first hit these parts in the fall of 11111 80, are in town and their popular ity continues to swell. Not only did they sell out last night's and tonight's shows, but a third (larger) show has been added June 28 at the Worcester Centrum. Gow mJ El CHMIES.PLAYHQUSI IS WtmiMUIST. lOSfOII sa-6133 S5.oe Well, as the Beach Boys once TIX: 338-6648 Group: 262-3100 3SES 2nd Smash Year! JKSPM CHARGE TICKETS: TELETHON: 720-3434 BOX OFFICE: 423-6273 JOK'J atonal KRNAK0 nuwt MRS.

WARREN'S '5 mm PROFESSION ran in Call 965-2 2 OO or toll free 1-800-9629 0w7 TONiTE AT 8 PIT TOM AT 6:30 4 9:30 PM I major credit card. Also at Out of Town UttETWJN KETHON if ni-i'' 1 1 rmstmmTm'1 742-8703 Oraup ThatlraChifg 4I2-M24 42M1H Bp SUNDAY AT 3 7:30 PM MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL! MOM'S TICKET flff PLANXTT I deuiuhI WORLD "Veehaffvaysof makink you laugh." -ThcOMO PREMIERE EVENING ALBUM Prmnl I IVfdrKoim tndfmntH 1 THRU JULY 10 GOOD SEATS AVAILABLE AT THE SYMPHONY HALL BOX OFFICE TO CHARGE TICKETS, CALL 497-1118 BOX OFFICE 16171426 5225 group sales 426-6444 FmlWi 1 MMilqila irT I tmifl aukaauMMMial May 9th 1 10th Tickets $6.00 Vllligi Click HeiMPikRnt. 204WiskiigtoiSt.Briikllu INFO: 566-8861 Coming: May 15 16 Mick MaloiMy Robbla O'Connatl A James Kaana THURSDy Bnng this ad and set 8 tickets for the price of 1. Otrge Tcks Instantly 497-1118 Alt MAJOR CRE OH CARDS PREUUDES (WWW PrwTMre) tmlltlRMmmnoH) CONCERTO BAROCCO (RMvill (SaancMnBcft April 27-May 8 1-800-223-0120 or 542-3945 Colonial Theatre ALL SALES FINAL nutw i SAnrnvty iwo shows Charles Playhouse stau For the perfect gift, give 1 mm SUNDAY Open 9:00. Shear Madness Gift Certificates cS Boston University Celebrity Series 0PN BEFORE 4 AFTfS EVERY BREAKERS HOME GAMES For Wo and naanattana, cat: EfM'ljl 0 "'AMADEUS' SHOULD BE SEEN! Peter Shaffer's "Amadeus" is a richly theatrical play about the rivalry between a mediocre musical hack and a genius.

It was a glittering piece of dramatic crystal when I saw it in New York and it is still a rewarding evening!" Kwin Krty. SoMon Gtobt. "'AMADEUS' IS COMPELLING! The performances by John Wood and John Pankow are extraordinary! There is wonderful writing and intelligent insights in this play!" Otn Plulw. town HttaM. IS SUPER THEATRE! This is a better production than the Broadway original! More style, more depth, more emotion!" WiWMn Gk.

PrevKtanc Journal "'AMADEUS' IS THRILLING! it encompasses everything that defines greatness." -Virginia Lucttr, Middlesei News "'AMADEUS' IS EXTRAORDINARY! It is brilliant in every way!" Constance Gofflnkie. Patriot Ledger "'AMADEUS' IS EXCITING! One of the most exciting theatrical experiences you will ever undergo. In John Wood's performance, there is such depth of talent that comparisons to Laurence Olivier are completely justified. 'Amadeus' will be a memory you will cherish forever!" -Frank Oolan. WEEI-AM CBS.

Oscar Wilde5 if- positively scandalous IiT)portaqcc OfBciiig Earliest "Compelling and Provocative. KEVN KHJ.V, 8osn Gtoiw TONIGHT AT 8 Huntington Theatre Company presenls Time and the Conways by J. B. Priestley Now Through May 14 CHARGE BY PHONE: 617266-3913 JUIUfE MOW Mill ilT412-3424 Boston University Theatre 264 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02115 RAHK by Frances Goodrich Albert Hackett fcHARCETtCKFTSJ TCTfT JORDAN HALL 536-2412 TICKETS AVAILABLE CtTC WAVeRLV CONSORC WORLD RENOWNED EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLE "SPANISH MUSIC IN THE AGE OF EXPLORATION" CREDIT CARD CHARGE: 542-1700 seats mm OPERA HOUSE 531 Washington Boston PnoM 426-2786 BOX-OFFICE OPEN 10 TO 6 CtlMfS MIAVOUH totw CHARGE YOUR TICKETS 542-1700 Tickets on ul at all TICKETRON outlets TELETHON: 720 3434 NOW May 8 ASL Inttrprettd 267-5600 b4 Wheelock FamiK' Theatre FINAL NIGHT: Eugene O'Neill's IIUGIIIE WITH FOOTFALLS AND ROCKABY by Samuel Beckett at the Hasty Pudding Theatre 12 Holyoke Street Cambridge 1 80 The Riverway (Rte. 1 (Boston GM)Sale SLuIpeare 4 Gwpany C9 CT fVYTTTIPH ST.

MCVISA BOSTIX Oien 12 Horn (WSi MARKET Two men of undisputed gifts: Wolfgang Amadeus Motart: His genius was so great that it bordered on the ubscene. Antonio Salieri: His evil was so ingenious that it bordered on brilliance. AMADEUS Could murder ilop the music Mother's Biy 1J A I SCOREBOARD Thi CHART HOUSE A look at today's stock activities in BUSINESS inside The Boston Globe t. SPORTS PLUS GIVES YOU SOMETHING EXTRA ON SPORTS IN THE BOSTON GLOBE Every week. For Home Delivery call 929-2222 or toll free inside Mass.

1-800-532-9524. FINE STEAKS SEAFOOD PRIME RIB MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED ITELE-TRON: (617) 720-3434 227-1576 Group Sales Call: (617) 426-6444 Ticketron, (8 SHUBERT THEATRE Mi Ttomont Bockm. ma 60 LONG WHARF On The Waterfront BOSTON Ai r1- rii A iiTin ir1 iin frtmlti Aj jfnii iTni An. im --ifti Jkjfu. fii lAiuifM.tfMi-1 Anttijk-0nrTn,.