Svoboda’s “Traviata of the Mirrors” returns to Macerata

By James Imam, 25 July 2018

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“Such commanding interpretations of this role do not come round every day”

Reviewed at Arena Sferisterio, Macerata on 22 July 2018

Verdi, La traviata

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Conductor

Henning Brockhaus, Director

Josef Svoboda, Set Designer

Giancarlo Colis, Costume Designer

Salome Jicia, Violetta Valéry

Iván Ayón-Rivas, Alfredo Germont

Luca Salsi, Giorgio Germont

Mariangela Marini, Flora Bervoix

Silvano Paolillo, Gastone de Letorières

Lorenzo Grante, Baron Douphol

Marianna Mennitti, Annina

Stefano Marchisio, Marquis d'Obigny

Giacomo Medici, Dr Grenvil

Orchestra Regionale delle Marche

Coro Lirico Marchigiano "Vincenzo Bellini"

Otello, or The dark side of the Moor unveiled in Naples

Lorenzo Fiorito, 19th April

A great singing cast and an excellent conducting for the unveiling of Otello's ghosts in Naples.

****1

Reality television: ENO’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester

Lawrence Dunn, 12th May

Kip Williams and ENO mount an extraordinary new production of Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s multifaceted opera, with performances of great emotional directness broadcast live on camera.

*****

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

David Smythe, 9th May

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Carmen

Thomas May, 8th May

Sasha Cooke’s thoughtful role debut anchors Paul Curran’s visually and musically alert but dramatically uneven production.

****1

Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

John Gilks, 7th May

Excellent performances cannot turn a conventional production of Massenet’s Werther into a dramatic experience for the 21st century.

***11

Welsh National Opera’s Dutchman docks in Birmingham

Rohan Shotton, 7th May

This bracing performance of The Flying Dutchman is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary musical standards which are at risk in the face of WNO’s subsidy cuts.

****1

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James Imam

James Imam is an arts journalist writing for publications including The Financial Times, The Times, Musical America and Opera magazine. He grew up in Manchester, read anthropology at Cambridge and has since lived in Milan. As a once-aspiring countertenor he has an abiding interest in Baroque music.