For less experienced opera-goers such as myself, Verdi’s la Traviata storyline will be familiar, whether it be Pretty Woman’s wealthy white knight rescuing sex worker Vivian or Moulin Rouge’s tragic love affair between Satine and Christian: A tragic tale of over privileged blokes and a woman who can’t do right for doing wrong.
Jonathan Webb guides the orchestra through the prelude with the most sensitive and mournful violins breaking into melodic sweetness, reversely telling us exactly what to expect over the next two hours and forty-five minutes, with a wonderful four minute introduction. The orchestra did not disappoint in underscoring the drama throughout.
Costume and Set Designer Madeleine Boyd’s palette immediately and beautifully contrasts Alison Langer’s Violetta from other cast members, with deep green elegance jarring against writhing carnal ochre and red. This opening act of big songs and heavy drinking looks like a cracking night out of absolute debauchery, but something tells us that this will not end well.
Throughout the performance, Langer’s beautiful and acrobatic, soaring voice seemed effortless yet ultimately convincing us that these breaths were her last as she fails to recover from tuberculosis.
Everything in La Traviata happens so quickly, including the declaration of love for Violetta by Alfredo, played by Nico Darmanin. The chemistry on stage between Darmanin and Langer works -and their harmonies are an absolute pleasure, reinforcing how disappointing and destructive the men in her life are when it all turns sour.
Langer’s vocals rip through Leeds Grand Theatre and portray a powerful yet isolated woman full of nuance and delicacy and brilliantly supported by cast, costume and choreography.
Langer convincingly plays the fallen woman whose strength of character and independence men feel necessary to quash. Only when it is too late do the men in her life show remorse, as she approaches death in the beautifully lit whiteness of Act III. Father and son guilty of throwing money and abuse at her combine to demonstrate little has changed, nor will it change.
We are so fortunate as a City to have Opera North, and of course Leeds Grand Theatre as a most fitting venue, so if you’ve previously been disappointed by your experience of opera, or haven’t yet tried it, book here. It could be the start of a new passion!
Photographs provided by Opera North.
