John Steane examines some of the problems Posed by Verdi's La
Traviata. He takes as his theme the paradox that in one sense our
Performers - say In these last 50 years - have itaken 'the score too seriously, too literally; and In another sense, not seriously enough ", and draws on records made by such artists as BELLINCIONI, BERGONZI, BORI, DE LUCIA, NSCHCK-DIESKAU, MELBA and ponselle, and such conductors as "WI, TOSCANINI and others.