Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata (1853), a number one candidate for hottest opera of all time, is a couple of intercourse employee with a superb coronary heart and energy of character; assume academy award winner “Anora” with higher music. Additionally, a lot much less pores and skin. As a substitute, Mr. Verdi’s opera touches our hearts, revealing our commonality in valuing real love, sacrifice, and kindness within the face of societal disapproval, whereas immersing us in exquisitely stunning music that makes us really feel deeply the emotional influence of the story. It additionally supplies singers a chance, particularly the soprano enjoying Violetta, to exhibit their expertise. Annapolis Opera’s telling checked all of the packing containers, as the corporate continues to hit above its weight class. The packed home on Sunday agreed with this evaluation and expressed their appreciation in thunderous applause and a fast-out-of-their-seats standing ovation.
Ethel Trujillo as Violetta and Lawrence Barasa as Alfredo in Annapolis Opera’s La Traviata. Photograph by Michael Halbig; courtesy of Annapolis Opera.
Violetta is predicated on an actual courtesan in mid 18th century Paris (for reference, within the 12 months of its premiere, 1853, Italy was but to turn into a unified nation, Napoleon III was the emperor of France, and the U.S. was lower than ten years from the start of its bloody Civil Conflict). Librettist Francesco Maria Piave primarily based the opera on a e-book and play by Alexandre Dumas, fils. You realize the acquainted plot line: boy will get woman (falls for intercourse employee), boy loses woman (father intercedes to save lots of the household’s good title), boy will get woman again (father reveals he engineered the breakup), woman dies (she had consumption/tuberculosis from the very starting). There’s additionally a duel concerned. Sorry in regards to the ending, it was by no means going to finish properly however not my fault. I might have had them transfer as a pair to Rome to flee the household drawback, Violetta get healed by the pope, and have a dozen children; however had I offered that to any good opera composer, he would have had the boy begin ingesting and have an affair, the woman flip to medicine, and one of many children get run over by the pope’s carriage. So, in the long run sure, Violetta dies of consumption, singing fantastically all of the whereas. And we, having been marvelously entertained, go house buzzing the nice tunes, however extra importantly, having reaffirmed our widespread love of human advantage.
Ethel Trujillo as Violetta and Gustavo Ahualli as Giorgio. Photograph by Michael Halbig; courtesy of Annapolis Opera.
Director Eve Summer season mentioned in her program notes that Alexandre Dumas, fils’ e-book and subsequent play tells the story of Violetta from a person’s perspective (sure, Mr. fils’ extra well-known father was Alexandre Dumas, writer of The Three Musketeers and The Rely of Monte Cristo). The opera model, La Traviata, is all about Violetta. AO’s dangerous wager in casting the younger Mexican soprano Ethel Trujillo within the lead function paid off handsomely, kudos to Creative and Music Director Craig Kier. Ms. Trujillo is a really younger performer, having graduated from the distinguished Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia in 2024; for her bachelor’s diploma from Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, she graduated summa cum laude. She has a formidable document of place finishes in lots of opera competitions within the US and Europe. She appeared as Rosina in AVA’s manufacturing of Il Barbiere di Siviglia. One of many pleasures of seeing fashionable operas like La Traviata a number of occasions evolves from seeing what completely different performers deliver to the roles, and promising younger abilities akin to Ms. Trujillo, make it an particularly attractive expertise. (For the document, pores and skin was completely out of the query in Verdi’s day. Heck, the censors wouldn’t even let him use the title he most well-liked, Amore e Morte (Love and Loss of life), too dramatic, I suppose. Nonetheless, Director Summer season did have some kissing concerned, doubt that may have gotten by nineteenth century censors.)
Ethel Trujillo as Violetta, John Tibbetts as Barone Duophol, and Joanne Evans as Flora. Photograph by Michael Halbig; courtesy of Annapolis Opera.
Again to soprano Ethel Trujillo who turned in a really sturdy efficiency as Violetta. She has a robust instrument and sings fantastically. Her trills and thrives in Act I have been an exhilarating delight, although I’m unsure at all times technically excellent. I used to be most impressed together with her performing and singing within the second half of the opera with extra easy vocals of nice emotional depth exhibiting extra of her full vary. In these solo arias and duets, she excelled. My spouse commented, and I agreed, that we wished we might time journey to listen to Ms. Trujillo carry out ten years from now. Her voice nonetheless has a youthful edge, and it will likely be fascinating to see the way it modifications as she matures and her expertise deepens. If she returns to Annapolis Opera, mark it as a must-see occasion.
There are two different lead roles in La Traviata, Violetta’s newfound love, Alfredo and his father, Giorgio. The function of Alfredo was performed by tenor Lawrence Barasa. He has a wealthy tenor voice and sings fantastically with exceptional diction and phrasing. Mr. Barasa, a local of Kenya, can be a younger performer, who started singing in a choir and is comparatively new to opera. He additionally has a formidable document in vocal competitions. I assumed the standard of his singing solo and in duets was excellent. Nonetheless, I discovered his performing to be considerably stiff, inflicting vocals in numerous conditions to sound related, an space for a younger performer to develop additional; I really feel he is perhaps prepared for Radamès however not Florestan (my spouse thought his performing was simply positive). The daddy Giorgio was performed by baritone Gustavo Ahualli who’s an skilled skilled having carried out in over 50 roles; he’s additionally a voice trainer. He offered a compelling involved father who shortly sensed Violetta was an individual of substance, then later regretted his function in her struggling. I particularly loved the wealthy duets between him and Ms. Trujillo.
Ethel Trujillo as Violetta, John Tibbetts as Barone Duophol, Lawrence Barasa as Alfredo, and Joanne Evans as Flora. Photograph by Michael Halbig; courtesy of Annapolis Opera.
The efficiency was firmed up by a bevy of supporting forged members, many famous native performers, that included Joanne Evans as Violetta’s buddy Flora, Andrew Adelsberger as Dr. Grenvil, John Tibbets as Baron Douphol, Violetta’s essential benefactor, and Patricia Hengen as Annina, Violetta’s doting maid. Additionally enhancing the efficiency was Anthony D. Anderson as Marchese, Patrick Kilbride as Gastone, Max Alexander Cook dinner as Giuseppe, J.P. Gorski as Commissioner, and Henry Hubbard as Servant. I’ll single out mezzo soprano Joanne Evans, who piqued my curiosity with wonderful singing in her temporary solo.
The Annapolis Opera Orchestra’s 27-piece ensemble performed Verdi’s music fantastically below the route of Conductor Craig Kier. The primary attractive melody within the overture tells us somebody goes to die; if ever there was music for a contemporary hospital TV sequence, that is it. The overture strikes to some dance music; okay, there will probably be some enjoyable, after which explodes quickly to take us into the salon’s social gathering ambiance. Maestro Kier maintained wonderful coordination with the singers and saved the music showcasing and never overpowering the vocals. The forged served because the choir and have been spectacular in that function; kudos to Principal Coach and Refrain Grasp Joann Kuleza.
Ethel Trujillo as Viioletta and Lawrence Barasa as Alfredo. Photograph by Michael Halbig; courtesy of Annapolis Opera.
Director Summer season’s staging used easy atmospheric units enhanced by lighting; kudos to Lighting Designer and Manufacturing Supervisor Chris Brusberg. The costumes have been a visible delight and applicable for the time interval; kudos to Wardrobe Supervisor Sharlene Clinton, and to Wig/Make-up Designer Priscilla Bruce who reworked Violetta from a beautiful younger courtesan to a bed-ridden, bodily wreck on the finish. Dancing in opening scenes instantly created the social gathering ambiance of the salon and later enhanced the enjoyable of the matador scene. The deathbed finale was properly designed by Director Summer season.
Annapolis has a inhabitants of round forty thousand and but has top-of-the-line small opera corporations within the US. La Traviata was one other triumph for them and a promoting level for the town. Kudos to all concerned!
The Fan Expertise: Performances of La Traviata have been scheduled for March 14 and 16 in Maryland Corridor. The opera was sung in Italian with English supertitles on screens positioned on each side of the stage. The efficiency ran about two hours forty-five minutes with two intermissions. There was a pre-opera speak scheduled one hour earlier than the efficiency.
La Traviata was the final staged manufacturing of the season for AO. Nonetheless, The thirty seventh Annapolis Opera Vocal Competitors will happen in Maryland Corridor on April 13, a free occasion. This system e-book indicated Don Giovanni and Hansel and Gretel are scheduled for subsequent season. The corporate will formally announce its 2025-2026 season on April 13.
In her opening feedback, President of the Board Dr. Carletta Allen revealed one piece of proof supporting Annapolis Opera’s prominence. AO Director Kathy Swekel was “lately honored by Opera America for her tenure on the helm of our Firm”. Ms. Swekel was considered one of solely 5 people to be so honored amongst the entire opera corporations in the USA.
