Venera Gimadieva leads a moving Traviata in DC

By Ako Imamura, 23 October 2018

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“Gimadieva can sing long lyrical lines with continuous breath, quiet composure and absolute stillness”

Reviewed at Kennedy Center: Opera House, Washington on 21 October 2018

Verdi, La traviata

Washington National Opera

Renato Palumbo, Conductor

Francesca Zambello, Director

Peter J. Davison, Set Designer

Jess Goldstein, Costume Designer

Venera Gimadieva, Violetta Valéry

Joshua Guerrero, Alfredo Germont

Lucas Meachem, Giorgio Germont

Alexandria Shiner, Annina

Arnold Livingston Geis, Gastone de Letorières

Washington National Opera Chorus

Washington National Opera Orchestra

Mark McCullough, Lighting Designer

Washington National Opera marches onward with a joyous Treemonisha

Sam Jacobson, 15th March

A vibrant new production of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha at Washington National Opera underscores the opera’s enduring message of education, community and social justice.

****1

WNO's Samson et Dalila shows how sweet love's poison can sound

Sydney Boyd, 1st March

Strong singing but a stellar orchestra and staging make for a riveting production at the Kennedy Center.

****1

A #metoo Don Giovanni at Washington National Opera

Sydney Boyd, 29th February

Lots of people talk about keeping opera relevant. WNO shows why this opera always has been.

****1

Washington National Opera's merry take on Mozart's Magic Flute

Sydney Boyd, 2nd November

Could The Magic Flute be the next Nutcracker? A child-friendly take on the classic in a mash-up of pyramids and petticoats.

***11

Russell Thomas shines in gloomy David Alden's Otello

Vishnu Bachani, 26th October

The combination of a strong, spirited cast and a first-rate orchestral performance led by Daniele Callegari rendered the opera a moving experience in spite of drab staging and latent, unexplored tensions.

***11

Musically resplendent Don Carlo in Washington

Edward Sava-Segal, 3rd March

The team of soloists, the chorus and the orchestra, under the baton of Philippe Auguin, powerfully conveyed the spectacular qualities of Verdi's Don Carlo.

****1

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Ako Imamura

Atsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.