OperaNotes Review

Palm Beach Opera, Florida

December 12, 2003
by Charlene Frank
 

Music: Guiseppe Verdi
Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
Conductor: Kamal Khan
Stage Director: Thor Steingraber

Cast:
Violetta Valery: June Anderson
Baron Douphol: Gustavo Ahualli
Flora Bervoix: Elizabeth Shammash
Marquis d'Obigny: Xavier Garcia
Dr. Grenvil: Ardean Landhis
Alfredo Germont: Raul Melo
Annina: Sarah Mattox
Giorgio Germont: Vladimir Chernov

We all had to be understanding about letting late-comers in after the performance started, after all, there was a terrible car accident on the I-95, but I hated that the people who stepped out mid-performance were allowed to walk in, disturbing both the audience and the performers. Respect the performers. That being said, let's move on to the opera.

June Anderson (Violetta) was magnificent from the second act on. Unfortunately in the first act where she and Raul Melo (Alfredo) should soar, they just floated. Libiamo ne' lieti calici was beautiful, but it didn't make me feel like I wanted to raise a glass and join the party. Un di felice and E strano!, both lovely, passionate arias, were both lovely, but neither were passionate.

June Anderson took off in the second act. From that point on she may be one of the best Violetta's I have ever heard. She was everything a soprano should be, and everything an actor should be. Her portrayal of the ill-fated party girl who turns good because of love, then suffers because of her partying past, and is loved again right before she dies, was perfect. Yes, we all felt her pain.

Raul Melo was a good Alfredo, a very good tenor, but he has to get this passion thing down. Alfredo is in love. He is consumed by love. But in the first act we just didn't feel it. I don't know if it can be learned, but I hope so. If it can be learned, he will be a tenor to keep your eye on.

I hated Giorgio Germont. No, not Vladimir Chernov, I didn't hate him, I hated Giorgio Germont. That is a good thing. Chernov's meddling, mean and short sited character (all in the name of familial love of course) may have been a bit overdone, but that is better than the opposite. I kept hoping beyond hope that Violetta would smack him and throw him out of her home, but I suppose that is never going to happen in the traditional Traviata,

It could have been a great Traviata, but without a passionate first act it just lost too much. However, it was still a good Traviata, and I hope to see June Anderson and Raul Melo again.