Holland Opera Park. Traviata
La Traviata is Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece about love, emotion and finally grief which still has a powerful impact today.
The Holland Park staging is unique and has a great intimacy with the audience. This intimacy draws the audience into the story from the beginning and never let’s go. At the start there is the sound of Violetta coughing then, slowly, the curtain is pulled back to show her with her maid, Annina. She coughs then shows Annina the blood on her gloved hand. The orchestras lilting sorrowful tone conveys the sense she is dying from the ravages of consumption. Almost in denial of her failing health she hosts a great party. She is radiant, beautiful and flirtatious. Alfredo is very much in love with her and says yes when asked to sing a toas to Violetta. The wonderful cast raise their glasses to toast Violetta and sing the joyful Drinking Song. Violetta feels unwell and is alone when Alfredo as she sings the aria Sempre Libera, powerful and emotional singing by Alison Langer. Alfredo declares his love for Violetta, in a touching duet between them describing their future life together. Both Matteo Desole and Alison Langer softly infusing the aria with hope of a life for them when Violetta is well.
Violetta has forsaken her old life of shallowness to live with Alfredo in the country. However, they live in penury, and secretly Violetta sells he possessions in Paris to raise enough money for them to survive. Alfredo, learns of this and due to his shame decides he must leave for Paris himself to find support. During this time Alfredo's father visits to implore Violetta to save Alfredo by leaving him. Michel de Souza plays Giorgio Germont; he has an exquisite baritone voice and solemnly demands her to leave for Alfredo's sake. She protests impassionedly but, in the end, decides he is right; she must leave. As she writes a note to Alfredo to say she has left him for Barone Douphoi (Nicholas Garrett) , he returns. There follows a beautiful duet where Alison Langers soprano soars as she insists to Alfredo that he will always love her. Violetta leaves but a note is passed to Alfredo from her to say she has gone to Paris and their romance is over.
Violetta returns to party at Floras house accompanied by the Barone Duouphoi. There is dancing and singing from the gyps girls and men sing of their bullfighting skills. Here the cast are in full flow singing with gusto. Alfredo appears but on seeing Violetta he demands she tells the whole room that she loves the Baron. Violetta duets with Alfredo who, in his anger, impugns her honour by throwing money at her in payment of his debts. Matteo Desole curt voice projects his anger so well here. He leaves after being chastised by the party goes.
The end is near as Violetta is now living in poverty with Annina. Her consumption has worsened and she is now weak from the decease. Lying on the bed, her deathly white face ghostly to see, she can barely move. Alison Langers portrays her agony with a light voice insistent she speaks with Dottore Grenvil a true friend. They duet quietly about her health but she knows it is the end. Dottore Grenvil tells Annina gravely that Violetta is near death. She reads a letter from Alfredos father to say Alfredo knows of her sacrifice for him and he will come to her. Alson Langer sings Violetta beautiful aria of love and regret knowing life is over a sadness pervades us all. Alfredo arrives to once more sing with Violetta in a defiant duet that they will be together, hope is renewed only for Violetta to succumb to illness and die in Alfredo's arms.
All the cast sing memorably in the wonderful Holland Park setting. This is an opera full of great arias which the principal singers with superb voices. My favourite is Micel de Souza as Alfredo's father, whose lovely baritone voice conveys his regret at the very end for a mistake in asking Violets to leave Alfredo. Fantastic opera as always perfect singing and wonderful orchestration.
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