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Doomed love still delights
La Traviata
Welsh National Opera
Birmingham Hippodrome
*** VERDI'S tale of doomed love is an opera
classic with all the necessary ingredients – drama, romance, loss,
redemption and death with a good helping of lively tunes. And in the hands of Welsh National Opera this
production, directed by David McVicar is lush, beautiful to watch and
quite traditional. That's not to say that traditional is a bad
thing. With the storyline of an overblown costume drama, new takes on La
traviata don't always work. Keep it within its timeline and dress it up
with plenty of posh frocks and it translates perfectly well. A successful La traviata does depend very heavily
on its three lead roles and in this production it took a while for me to
be convinced. Linda Richardson initially seemed a bit
uncomfortable in the role of Violetta as a wanton party-goer living
solely for pleasure. It was only once she had made the transition to the
loving and noble Violetta of the second act that she really seemed to
gain her stride, taking us all with her into the conclusion in which she
becomes convincing and tragic as she struggles with consumption. This initial hesitancy also seemed to affect Ji-Min
Park as Alfredo although he quickly gained momentum as the lovesick
suitor determined to win the hand of Violetta. Alan Opie has just the right level of gravitas
mixed with self-righteousness to play Giorgio Germont, the meddlesome
father who is so convinced he knows best that he wreaks havoc on
everyone. Conducted by Simon Phillippo, the WNO Orchestra
are thoroughly comfortable with Verdi's music which is a pleasure to
listen to. La traviata, which is repeated on Mar 8, forms
part of a trio of WNO operas being performed at Birmingham Hippodrome
Theatre this week which all share the theme of 'Fallen Women'. Also in
the programme are Puccini's Manon Lescaut on Mar 5 and 7 and Henze's
Boulevard Solitude on Mar 6. La Trviata and Manon Lescaut are sung in
Italian with English surtitles. Diane Parkes A classic story of a fallen woman
***** AT the start of their Spring visit to
Birmingham, the WNO delivered a towering performance with Verdi’s
classic story of a fallen woman’s life of hectic pleasure, genuine
love then ultimate tragedy. Everything clicked smoothly into place –
wonderful voices and great music in what is considered one of the most
heart-rending operas ever written, and there was hardly a dry eye in the
house at the final curtain. Black sets and drapes in the the three acts
seemed to foretell impending doom, though the superb costumes provided a
welcome dash of colour for the Brindisi, the drinking song at a Parisian
party staged by the popular courtesan, Violetta Valery. Linda Richardson sings and acts superbly as
Violetta who appears to have found real love for the first time when the
handsome Alfredo Germont arrives and eventually persuades her to live
with him in the country. Ji-Min Park gives a powerful performance laced
with passion as Alfredo, driven to fury when he believes his lover has
gone back to her old ways, little realising she has been persuaded
against her will by Alfredo’s father Giorgio, impressively played by
Alan Opie. The climax, with the lovers reunited but only as
Violetta is dying from consumption, is a memorable end to a gripping
opera, with music by the Welsh National Opera conducted by Simon
Phillippo. Paul Marston
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