Empire Theatre, Sunderland
Monday, 17th March 2025
Ellen Kent: Opera & Ballet International presents Giuseppi Verdi’s La Traviata
As a youth it wasn’t all trendy chart topping groups that filled my ears and, at the time, prog rock was something that I was yet to discover. Despite that however, I was open to try many musical genres and, one fateful evening I decided to, voluntarily, experience opera, that I did not want to totally surrender to what I saw as a form of music that was far too posh for me. I wanted to show that I was not pretentious, so I went in jeans and a Whitesnake t-shirt, which, I suppose, was being pretentious as well, only in the opposite direction. However, never mind my costume, or the students who were sat near me wearing cravats and velvet jackets, it was the music that engulfed me and had me hooked. Even though I do not go to the opera as often as I’d like, it is an indulgence that has stayed with me ever since.
Then, when I saw that Verdi’s 1853 classic, La Traviata, was being performed close to where I live, I knew I had to go, and I am glad I did.
It was sung in Italian, and as I only speak English and bad English, it is not a language I am overly fluent in, but thankfully there was a screen at the top of the proscenium arch that provided subtitles. This ensured that the dialogue was not totally lost on me. And, for those not familiar with the story, I will summarise it (spoiler alert time). Like many operas it is based on a true story, being an everyday tale of a fallen woman (they seemed to be clumsy in those days and there were lots of trip hazards – perhaps it was the shoes?), an obligatory terminal illness, which is usually tuberculosis, and a doomed, but oh so perfect love. Or, perfect apart from the inevitable death, which can cut short most romantic interactions.
But my perfunctory, and slightly tongue in cheek overview, does not do this beautiful and heart rending love story full justice and it certainly misses out the most important aspect of any opera; the music.
This version featured the full orchestra and the combined supreme talents of the Ukrainian Opera and the Ballet Theatre Kyiv, so it was a theatre full of international talent and it certainly shone through so that each act was blinding in its artistry.
Viktoriia Melnyk played Violetta and her superb soprano voice was well up to the task of capturing the vulnerability of one of opera’s most enduring characters. Every emotion was conveyed with grace mixed with power, ensuring that it sounded like the role could have been composed for her. But what is a love story without someone to love and be loved in return and, in the case of La Traviata it was Alfredo, played with energy, presence and prowess by Hovhannes Andreasyan.
I will not take up time by listing all the characters and the Ukrainian names of the cast as I struggle to spell them, never mind pronounce them, but trust me when I say that each one of them performed with aplomb that demonstrated their combined talents and skill. Even if you are not a fan of classical music you are likely to have heard Brindisi, the drinking song that is a regular staple of many a classical singer and was even a hit in the British singles chart for the Three Tenors – Pavarotti, Domingo & Carras. On a night when the neighbouring city, Newcastle, was busy celebrating winning a football trophy, the cast more than stood their ground and sung their own drinking song to demonstrate their joie de vivre.
There were other songs which might be less well known, such as E’strano!, De’ miei bollenti spiriti, and the poignant and tragic Addio, del passato bei sogni ridenti, but the lack of familiarity, or an English translation, to someone who isn’t an opera aficionado, does nothing to take away their magnificence and, despite them being sung in a foreign language, even without the subtitles they would have still hit their target; the hearts of the audience.
It was the first time I had seen La Traviata and, despite knowing the plot the sudden ending still surprised and was full of emotional strength that had one or two in the audience wiping tears from their eyes.
The whole evening was a combination of glorious sets, dazzling costumes and divine music so that the senses were filled and left me wanting more.
Even after the curtain had fallen and risen again for the bows and standing ovations that wasn’t the end of the emotions. A Ukrainian flag appeared and the cast sang their national anthem. A moment of pride for them which, perhaps, had its own poignancy greater than any single love story. It will certainly linger in my memory for a long time.
For opera virgins, I hope that my brief ramblings have whetted your appetite and made you want to dip your toes in the operatic waters and, if so, I hope you enjoy the experience. For those who already know what I am talking about, long may you enjoy the genre and if you get chance to capture this performance I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
[Photography was not allowed during the performance]
STARRING
Viktoriia Melnyk – Violetta
Hovhannes Andreasyan – Alfredo Germont
Iurie Gisca – Giorgio Germont
Yelyzaveta Bielous – Flora Bervoix
Ruslan Pacatovici – Gastone
Vitalie Cebotari – Barone Douphol
Valeriu Cojocaru – Doctor
Anastasiia Zuienko – Annina
Eugenie Ganea – Marchese d’Obigny
LINKS
Ellen Kent – Website | Facebook
Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv – Website
