La Traviata\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00a0Giuseppe Verdi<\/p>\n
Opera Australia,\u00a03\u00a0July\u00a02015<\/p>\n
It is only\u00a0two years since Opera Australia last revived Elijah\u00a0Moshinsky\u2019s\u00a01994 production ofLa\u00a0Traviata. \u00a0In this winter season it follows the revival of Graeme Murphy\u2019s 1990 production of\u00a0Turandot\u00a0and precedes a revival of\u00a0Moshinsky\u2019s\u00a01999 production of\u00a0Don Carlos. \u00a0In these difficult financial times\u00a0Opera Australia is\u00a0clearly\u00a0making extensive use of its\u00a0earlier investment in fine productions which have stood the test of time \u2013 unlike some\u00a0provocative productions which\u00a0have\u00a0disappeared\u00a0after\u00a0a single\u00a0season because they\u00a0sought\u00a0to be confrontational\u00a0rather\u00a0than to serve\u00a0the actual opera being performed.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0production of\u00a0La\u00a0Traviata\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0sumptuous\u00a0traditional\u00a0staging\u00a0which brings to life thefashionable\u00a0world of\u00a0nineteenth\u00a0century Paris.\u00a0The magnificent sets and the\u00a0lavish\u00a0costumes are\u00a0especially impressive, and the atmospheric lighting of Nigel\u00a0Levings\u00a0has been wonderfully recreated\u00a0by David Parsons.\u00a0In this revival,\u00a0directed\u00a0by Tama Matheson, the production retains its\u00a0full\u00a0freshness\u00a0and\u00a0drama. \u00a0<\/p>\n
In the title role of\u00a0Violetta\u00a0Lorina\u00a0Gore is a worthy addition to the list of\u00a0fine\u00a0sopranos who have\u00a0previously\u00a0sung in this production. \u00a0Her voice is well-focused\u00a0and maintains its beauty throughout her range. \u00a0She\u00a0has\u00a0substantial\u00a0reserves of power\u00a0but also sang with\u00a0great\u00a0delicacy in soft passages\u00a0such as\u00a0Ah\u00a0forse\u00a0\u00e8\u00a0lui,\u00a0and\u00a0produced an\u00a0exquisite\u00a0filament of sound\u00a0for\u00a0Ditealla\u00a0giovine. \u00a0She also\u00a0negotiated the coloratura of\u00a0Sempre\u00a0libera\u00a0admirably.\u00a0\u00a0Gore\u00a0is visuallywell-suited to the role and\u00a0convincingly portrayed the dramatic transition in\u00a0Act 2 from elation to despair. \u00a0In the last act she was\u00a0visually\u00a0a more convincing consumptive than is generally\u00a0encountered.<\/p>\n
Alfredo was sung by the Balkan tenor\u00a0Rame\u00a0Lahaj. \u00a0Although it is only\u00a0five\u00a0years since he made his international debut he is\u00a0already\u00a0a most accomplished performer. \u00a0His voice\u00a0may not be\u00a0as large as some who have sung this\u00a0role\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0is refined,\u00a0well\u00a0centred\u00a0and has\u00a0a\u00a0goodItalianate\u00a0resonance.\u00a0\u00a0He\u00a0sang an\u00a0extrovert\u00a0brindisi\u00a0but also\u00a0produced\u00a0delicate phrasing inParigi, O\u00a0cara. \u00a0He\u00a0moves\u00a0elegantly on stage and\u00a0epitomises\u00a0the romantic hero: tall, dark andgood looking. \u00a0Indeed, how many\u00a0Alfredos\u00a0can carry\u00a0their\u00a0ailing\u00a0Violetta\u00a0right\u00a0across the stage to her chair? \u00a0Dramatically, the evolving\u00a0interactions between Gore and\u00a0Lahaj\u00a0were a pleasure to behold.<\/p>\n
Jos\u00e9\u00a0Carb\u00f3\u00a0repeated the role of Giorgio\u00a0Germont\u00a0which he sang in 2013. \u00a0Since then\u00a0his interpretation has matured\u00a0further\u00a0and he convincingly traced\u00a0Germont\u2019s\u00a0emotional path from the\u00a0aggrieved\u00a0father\u00a0to one who is\u00a0totally\u00a0remorseful.\u00a0\u00a0Vocally,\u00a0Carb\u00f3\u00a0is fully in command of the role. \u00a0He sang\u00a0Pura\u00a0sicome\u00a0un\u00a0angelo\u00a0with\u00a0sensitivity and\u00a0Di\u00a0Provenza\u00a0with eloquence,untroubled by its high tessitura.<\/p>\n
The smaller roles were all well performed. \u00a0As Flora, Dominica Matthews was\u00a0a genial hostess\u00a0and\u00a0Pelham Andrews was a suitably offended Baron\u00a0Douphol. \u00a0Natalie\u00a0Aroyan\u00a0sang well in the supporting role of\u00a0Annina\u00a0and as Dr.\u00a0Grenvil\u00a0Gennadi\u00a0Dubinsky was suitably sonorous and authoritative.\u00a0John Longmuir was a lively\u00a0Gastone\u00a0and Luke\u00a0Gabbedy\u00a0an animated Marquis.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Opera Australia Chorus performed with their customary accuracy, discipline andimpressive\u00a0weight of tone. \u00a0Particularly\u00a0notable\u00a0were their unanimity of attack in loud passages and their\u00a0rhythmic precision when singing in\u00a0the background. \u00a0They are a credit to Chorus Master Anthony Hunt and his assistant Thomas Johnson.\u00a0Also to be admired is Matthew Barclay\u2019s choreography that transforms the\u00a0chorus\u00a0successively from\u00a0members of high society\u00a0to Spanish dancers and\u00a0gypsies.<\/p>\n
From the very opening of the Act 1 prelude it was clear that conductor\u00a0Renato\u00a0Palumbo was concentrating on the sensitive shaping of each individual phrase. \u00a0This attention to detail\u00a0was evident\u00a0throughout the performance, especially in the more delicate\u00a0orchestral\u00a0passages. \u00a0The performance was\u00a0well\u00a0paced and the\u00a0rubato\u00a0flowed naturally. \u00a0The\u00a0Australian Opera and Ballet orchestra responded admirably\u00a0with particularly distinguished contributions from all woodwind departments.<\/p>\n
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Opera Australia\u2019s publicity\u00a0says that\u00a0La\u00a0Traviata\u00a0is the most\u00a0frequently\u00a0performed of all operas. \u00a0If so,\u00a0then there is\u00a0good reason,\u00a0and this production is an ideal way to\u00a0experience\u00a0it. \u00a0It ticks all the boxes: wonderful music,\u00a0visually\u00a0beautiful production, excellent singing and compelling dramatic interaction between the principals. \u00a0There are a further eight performances until 22 July. \u00a0See it if you can!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Larry Turner<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
La Traviata\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00a0Giuseppe Verdi Opera Australia,\u00a03\u00a0July\u00a02015 It is only\u00a0two years since Opera Australia last revived Elijah\u00a0Moshinsky\u2019s\u00a01994 production ofLa\u00a0Traviata. \u00a0In this winter season…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"sls_format":[],"class_list":["post-18917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"acf":{"deck":"","is_featured":false,"media_type":"standard","audio_embed":"","video_url":""},"yoast_head":"\n