Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata (1853), a number one candidate for hottest opera of all time, is a couple of intercourse employee with an excellent coronary heart and energy of character; suppose academy award winner “Anora” with higher music. Additionally, a lot much less pores and skin. As an alternative, 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 offers singers a possibility, particularly the soprano enjoying Violetta, to display their expertise. Annapolis Opera’s telling checked all of the bins, 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 yr 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 Struggle). Librettist Francesco Maria Piave based mostly the opera on a ebook and play by Alexandre Dumas, fils. the acquainted plot line: boy will get lady (falls for intercourse employee), boy loses lady (father intercedes to avoid wasting the household’s good identify), boy will get lady again (father reveals he engineered the breakup), lady dies (she had consumption/tuberculosis from the very starting). There may be additionally a duel concerned. Sorry concerning the ending, it was by no means going to finish properly however not my fault. I’d have had them transfer as a pair to Rome to flee the household drawback, Violetta get healed by the pope, and have a dozen youngsters; however had I introduced that to any good opera composer, he would have had the boy begin consuming and have an affair, the lady flip to medicine, and one of many youngsters get run over by the pope’s carriage. So, in the long run sure, Violetta dies of consumption, singing superbly all of the whereas. And we, having been marvelously entertained, go dwelling buzzing the good 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 stated in her program notes that Alexandre Dumas, fils’ ebook and subsequent play tells the story of Violetta from a person’s perspective (sure, Mr. fils’ extra well-known father was Alexandre Dumas, creator of The Three Musketeers and The Depend 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 celebrated 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 instances evolves from seeing what completely different performers convey to the roles, and promising younger skills equivalent 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 identify he most popular, 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 superbly. Her trills and prospers in Act I have been an exciting delight, although I’m undecided at all times technically good. I used to be most impressed along with her appearing and singing within the second half of the opera with extra easy vocals of nice emotional depth displaying extra of her full vary. In these solo arias and duets, she excelled. My spouse commented, and I agreed, that we wished we may 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 attention-grabbing 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 superbly with exceptional diction and phrasing. Mr. Barasa, a local of Kenya, can also 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 believed the standard of his singing solo and in duets was very good. Nonetheless, I discovered his appearing to be considerably stiff, inflicting vocals in several conditions to sound comparable, 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 appearing was simply nice). 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 supplied 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 solid members, many famous native performers, that included Joanne Evans as Violetta’s pal Flora, Andrew Adelsberger as Dr. Grenvil, John Tibbets as Baron Douphol, Violetta’s important 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 Prepare 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 superbly below the course 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 collection, 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 environment. Maestro Kier maintained wonderful coordination with the singers and saved the music showcasing and never overpowering the vocals. The solid 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 acceptable for the time interval; kudos to Wardrobe Supervisor Sharlene Clinton, and to Wig/Make-up Designer Priscilla Bruce who remodeled Violetta from a lovely younger courtesan to a bed-ridden, bodily wreck on the finish. Dancing in opening scenes instantly created the social gathering environment 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 among the best small opera corporations within the US. La Traviata was one other triumph for them and a promoting level for 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 discuss 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 ebook 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 “just lately honored by Opera America for her tenure on the helm of our Firm”. Ms. Swekel was one in every of solely 5 people to be so honored amongst the entire opera corporations in the US.
