Opera Holland Park’s revival of its 2018 manufacturing of Verdi’s La traviata showcases a trio of tremendous principals in a vividly realised manufacturing

The element within the Act One social gathering was so profuse that at instances it threatened to overwhelm. Gaitanou had clearly labored with the refrain and we appeared to be offered with a number of little narratives, but this had a goal. It emphasised the busy public life that Langer’s Violetta inhabited. And regardless of, Desole’s Alfredo seeming to be retiring and considerably naïve, there was a thread of dedication in him too. And as soon as we reached Alfredo and Violetta’s duet, the music was allowed to take over. Langer and Desole made an interesting pairing, her poise and disdain being worn down by his mixture of dedication and little-boy-lost enchantment. The ultimate scene of the act showcased Langer’s robust lyric soprano, maybe extra sturdy within the coloratura than earlier than however this certainly confirmed Violetta’s intense temper. In any case, this isn’t meant to be merely a enjoyable act nearer. And Langer’s voice promised a lot for the opera’s subsequent scenes.

The primary scene in Act Two is the one which makes me itch relatively, Piave’s compression of time and place within the libretto makes full naturalism tough. Right here, Alfredo’s obsession with gardening and potting crops was used as relatively a neat metaphor, and Desole managed to make this Alfredo single minded and unthinking with out being an excessive amount of of an fool. Michel de Souza introduced an admirable firmness and dignity to Giorgio Germont, together with a tremendous, malleable voice. His Giorgio Germont was very a lot on his dignity, but permitting Langer’s passionate Violetta to shock him. Their scene collectively very tremendous certainly. Langer allowed Violetta to be determined, however not that determined, she was emotional however not hysterical, retaining a way of self possession.

Verdi: La Traviata – Matteo Desole – Opera Holland Park 2025 (Picture: Ali Wright)

There was a way of underlying violence to de Souza’s Giorgio Germont, one thing that he introduced out within the scene with Desole’s Alfredo. Right here each males had a shocking capability for violence when challenged. As with most profitable La traviata productions that I’ve seen, this one introduced out Alfredo’s limitations with Desole giving us a splendidly rounded characterisation.

After the interval, we returned to Act Two for Flora’s social gathering. One creditable level that the manufacturing chalked up was getting the costume proper for Alfredo and his father, each seemed attired for the suitable kind of social gathering relatively than simply wandering in off the road. Everybody had nice enjoyable with the depiction of Flora’s social gathering as a undoubtedly louche affair, with Gaitanou once more encouraging the refrain to supply an nearly distracting backdrop. However out of this got here one of many night’s most compelling scenes, when Alfredo and Violetta met alone. Right here Langer and Desole made their relationship actually crackle, Desole making Alfredo’s capability for violence meet Langer’s splendidly realised Violetta together with her poise and capability for self possession. Terrific stuff.

This Violetta didn’t collapse in a faint on the ground, she was far too collectively for that, although Alfredo’s gesture did trigger her to retire. This meant that Gaitanou was in a position to create a way of dynamism to the terrific ensemble, and Langer’s voice is now such that it soared splendidly within the ensembles.

Verdi: La Traviata – Alison Langer, Matteo Desole – Opera Holland Park 2025 (Picture: Ali Wright)

With the dimensions of the Opera Holland Park stage, any concept of intimacy needed to be compromised within the last act. Maybe Langer did a bit of an excessive amount of performing in poor health, the stagger throughout stage being relatively a lot. However musically, this was a compelling efficiency. At instances right here voice was a thread, but on the key moments she soared admirably, searing with nice energy. A telling second within the manufacturing was Violetta and Alfredo’s duet, ‘Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo’. This was no assured affirmation, Desole’s Alfredo sang it nearly as a comfort to Violetta within the full information that this departure from Paris would by no means occur. These last moments had been delivered to the fore-stage, thus giving us additional intimacy.

Each Langer and Desole appear to have grown into their roles and into the manufacturing, and Violetta and Alfredo’s relationship was depicted in a totally realised, splendidly rounded manner that was musically satisfying. De Souza made a extremely creditable and supportive third. Round them had been assembled a tremendous forged who enlivened the stage with vivid characters.

Laura Woods was a heat and vigorous Flora, positively voluptuous in her method throughout Act Two. Ellie Edmonds splendidly fierce Annina fortunately received extra stage time than traditional, while Henry Grant Kerswell’s Dottore Grenvil appeared to have acquired a boyfriend! Nicholas Garrett’s Barone Douphol, all stiff method and clipped supply, was nearly hiss-worthy in his steely nastiness. Zwakele Tshabalala and Chuma Sijeqa offered sterling help as Gastone and Marchese d’Obigny although the manufacturing gave us no assist at differentiating them. Robert Jenkins and Alastair Sutherland offered the smaller roles of Giuseppe and the Messenger in Act Two, with Ian Massa-Harris-McFeely within the silent position of Flora’s servant.

The refrain entered into the manufacturing with a will, giving innumerable little cameos within the social gathering scenes and general seeming to be utterly a part of the manufacturing.

Verdi: La Traviata – Laura Woods. Chuma Sijeqa – Opera Holland Park 2025 (Picture: Ali Wright)

Within the pit, Matthew Kofi Waldren demonstrated that he has developed right into a seasoned Verdian, drawing a tremendous efficiency out of all involved. This was one which flowed dramatically, but particular person singers had been allowed time to increase and breathe with out letting issues stretch out. And general, there was the sense that music itself was formed in a manner that allowed it to circulation.

Opera Holland Park has been rightly celebratory of the best way the celebs aligned for this manufacturing when it debuted and this revival was no seasoned routine, however a vibrantly residing and musical efficiency that was profoundly satisfying.