Opera Queensland opened its 2009 season on Saturday evening in true style with their sumptuous production of La Traviata. The main season for the year also includes an all new production of Beethoven's Fidelio in July and Rigoletto in October and also includes two entirely new pieces commissioned by the company - Dirty Apple and Waltzing Our Matilda also in July. Dirty Apple is a collaboration with Backbone Youth Arts and is to be directed by the very talented Michael Futcher (winner of numerous awards in recent years), while Waltzing Our Matilda is part of the 150th birthday celebrations of our wonderful state.
But back to La Traviata. The opera is based on Alexandre Dumas' play The Lady of the Camellias. Verdi's operatic version, with libretto by Francesco Maria Piave opened in Venice in March 1853, while this particular production was first staged by Opera Australia in August 1994.
The role of Violetta in this production is sung by the incomparable Elvira Fatykhova who is, quite simply, in a class all her own. Queensland audiences have already been witness to this Russian soprano's amazing talent through her singing of the role of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor a couple of years ago and as Rosina in last year's production of The Barber of Seville.
Cast alongside her is Australian Tenor Adrian Dwyer in the role of Alfredo. While technically quite competent in his own right Dwyer is quite simply outclassed by Fatykhova and so the production, while very good in and of itself, does not quite reach its full potential.
Douglas McNicol, as Alfredo's father Giorgio Germont, puts in a sterling performance and Rosemarie Arthars (a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music) is equally good.
However, this is a grand opera with a big cast and to go on naming a critiquing each and every performer would take more space than this column allows. Suffice it to say that the production just reeks of class and is a real treat for opera lovers.
Sets and costumes, designed originally by Michael Yeargan, who is himself Professor of Design at Yale Repertory Theatre, are simply wonderful. So much attention to detail has gone into this production that one can easily become distracted simply looking at all the little bits and pieces that have gone into it. Such an air of space has been created that it is difficult at times to realize that this is still the stage at Brisbane's own Lyric Theatre.
The Chorus, which of course for a production like La Traviata, is vast and is simply first rate. Likewise the Queensland Orchestra, under the baton of Peter Robinson, proves yet again that they are the equal of any orchestra in the country, if not the world.
Perhaps you don't like Opera. Or think you don't. Try this one anyway and you will surprise yourself. Verdi's music is sublime and will very likely win your heart. If you do like opera then make sure you don't miss this.
Four and a half Stars
-- Nigel Munro-Wallis
