Yesterday
evening, we had the pleasure of attending Glyndebourne’s La Traviata. Front row
seats too and so we had a wonderful time watching the orchestra in the pit as
well as the performers on stage. This opera by Guiseppe Verdi is the most
frequently performed opera in the world. It has everything it needs to make it
so successful and to keep fans coming back for more. With a classic, tragic
love story, beautiful musical scores and of course the simple yet stunning
stage and costumes, it seems it is as loved today as it was when it first
appeared in London in 1856. To top it off, an excellent performance by the
established Glyndebourne Tour, celebrating their golden anniversary this year.
I can’t
pretend to be an opera connoisseur, however I can certainly say I had a
thoroughly enjoyable evening and there was a fabulous round of applause from
the audience with some whistles for Mané! The role of Violetta was performed by
Mané Galoyan who is clearly an established soprano giving a faultless
performance that is worthy of any tragic heroine in the opera. She was
complimented perfectly by Luis Gomes, performing Alfredo and together they
whisked us off to the charmingly romantic City of Light, Paris alongside the
rest of the cast and chorus.
Like all
operas, the story of La Traviata is quite simple but resonates with audiences
across the world and indeed, has done so throughout the eras. With youth,
beauty, tragedy, conflict, desperation, love, frolicking, betrayal and death
what else do we need? The young, social courtesan Violetta is, eventually,
convinced to accept Alfredo’s love. They move in together before his father
asks Violetta to leave him so that Alfredo can fulfil his family duties back
home. After she leaves, Alfredo becomes mad and jealous, then humiliates her at
a soirée in front of their friends. The final Act sees Violetta terminally ill with
only hours to live. Alfredo arrives begging her forgiveness and the lovers
dream of resuming their life together but fate intervenes.
This opera has
plenty of drama entwined with the melodies and touches on subjects that many of
us can relate to including living on your own terms, falling in (or out) of love,
naivety and death.
You can
still catch Glyndebourne this week at Milton Keynes theatre performing
Cendrillon tonight and La Traviata again on Friday, for tickets head to www.atgtickets.com
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