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If you’ve ever longed for the
Paris of the 1920s – that seemingly bygone era that still resonates with some of us for its glamour, refined taste and multicultural arts – take a trip there this weekend with the Orlando Phil’s new production of Verdi’s classic
La Traviata.
The opera, a feast for the eyes and ears, features some of the most memorable music in the history of the genre, and the new production boasts energetic ensemble choral episodes and a supremely talented trio of leads. Cuban soprano
Elizabeth Caballero plays
Violetta, the young courtesan who is wary of a passion that in the end consumes her as much as her tuberculosis does. The singer’s colorful vocal style and superhuman projection filled the
Bob Carr during the last dress rehearsal (to which the Phil kindly invited a group of local arts writers and bloggers). If you’ve never experienced the
raw unamplified power of an electrifying singer backed up by a 61-piece orchestra, this weekend is your chance.
American
Brian Jagde plays the young
Alfredo, who steals Violetta’s heart. First meeting her at a party, he confesses his love and secret daily visits to her during her recent illness. To celebrate her recovery, he gives a toast to life – the famous “Libiamo” drinking aria. If you thought you didn’t like opera or haven’t heard any, well, you
have heard
“Libiamo.” And it’s worth seeing and hearing it in full swing with the full cast supporting Jagde’s warm and inspired tenor voice.
The boy-meets-girl story still rings familiar to this day and has loosely inspired films such as
Moulin Rouge! and
Pretty Woman, but Verdi’s score fully supports the style and action, flawlessly merging drama and music. Of course a story of this kind isn’t complete without a dramatic breakup and emotional tensions: Enter Giorgio, Alfredo’s father, who wants his son’s relationship with Violetta called off for familial reasons.
Stephen Powell plays the role with an imposing baritone, completing this dynamic trio of leads.
Stage director
Frank McClain calls his new production with the OPO “opera without walls,” owing to the set elements and elaborate costumes that bring the story and time period to life, but with the orchestra placed onstage, as if they were a silent participant of the unfolding drama. An essential behind-the-scenes contributor to the production is costume designer
Bobbie Demme-San Fillipo. She describes the collaborative approach among her team of hair and make-up artists, combined with the props and backdrop, as a Seurat painting, in which “all the little points of light and color become one big painting.”
If you swooned for the opulence of the 1920s in recent movies such as
Midnight in Paris or
The Great Gatsby, you’ll enjoy the experience of a
live and spirited display of costumes, make-up, choreography, song and dance that recollects the panache of the decade and immerses you for an emotional ride. If you’re a fan of musical theater or the great American musicals, you’re just a step away from the wonders of opera with this new accessible production. Grab a pair of tickets for this weekend’s performance and climb that step up!
Orlando Philharmonic presents La Traviata at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre:
- 8 p.m. Friday, May 9
- 2 p.m. Sunday, May 11
To purchase tickets, visit
orlandophil.org/tickets or call 407-770-0071.
To watch a short behind-the-scenes video of the new production, click below.