University of Virginia Library

'La Traviata' Succeeds
Despite University Hall

By Myles Tronic

Little needs to be said about the
greatness and power of one of
Giuseppe Verdi's greatest operas,
"La Traviata," for any work,
musical or otherwise that has
endured condescending and sarcastic
critics, discriminating audiences,
and the test of time, in short, has to
be great. However, there is a great
deal to be said about the Goldovsky
Grand Opera Theater's performance
of "Traviata" on Wednesday evening,
in University Hall, for any
opera company who could endure
performing in what is actually a
basketball court with its limited
space and poor acoustics and
perform well, has to be more than
just competent.

This second in this year's Artist
began with the all too familiar
prelude, as performed by what was
very noticeably a smaller than usual
operatic orchestra. Nevertheless,
throughout the entire opera, the
players especially the strings, offered
a sound, if not excellent
musical accompaniment and a secure
foundation for the singers to
depend on in even the most
difficult arias.

After the prelude, the curtain
opened, revealing what was a very
well adapted set for University Hall.
The scene of the first act is the
terrace of Violetta, the heroine's
house, in Paris, around 1880.
Likewise, the three following acts,
all with different scenes, were well
set. Various parts of the scenery
were cleverly utilized for the entire
opera.

Like the scenery, the costumes
were elegant and even striking, once
even a bit too striking. In the third
act, Violetta, our courtesan heroine,
appeared at a co-courtesan's
party in a gown of gold glitter and
an unusually high tiara, an ensemble
which, to say the least,
made Violetta, as played by Nancy
Shade, look like a home-coming
queen. However, this had little to
do with her superb performance in
this act and every other, for that
matter.

Acoustics Licked

To be sure, the most prominent
feature in Miss Shade's performance
was her vocal power. University
Hall is an acoustic cow pasture,
demanding strong voice. Miss
Shade, more so than any other of
the singers, had the acoustical
problem licked. In Act I, in the
magnificent duet, "One happy
moment," Miss Shade not only
seemed to have more vocal strength
than Enzo Citarelli who played
Alfredo Germont, her lover, but
also sang her ornate passages
beautifully without making them
into an exaggerated form of bird
chirping as has so often been done
in this duet.

One of the great show-stoppers
in the opera is found in the first
act. It is Violetta's aris, "Always
free." Nancy Shade with her
characteristic strength, sang the
immensely difficult flight passages
of this aria with case and remarkable
competency.

Mr. Citarelli, as Alfredo, exhibited
excellent tonal qualities but
did not quite overcome University
Hall as well as Miss Shade until Act
IV, the final act in which Violetta
dies of consumption. In the tender
duet, "Far away from Paris," Mr.
Citarelli and Miss Shade made the
highlight of the opera, singing on a
perfect par with each other.

Emotion, Pathos

Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont,
as played by Harvey Hicks,
was very well portrayed. Mr. Hicks
and Miss Shade were beautifully
matched in the famous duet in Act
II, "Tell your fair daughter." Mr.
Hicks did his great aria, "in the
province," with extreme emotion
and pathos which had a heavy
impact on the audience.

To be sure, Act IV was the best
performed act in the opera. The
main characters all united into one
great force to make for what was a
magnificent finale, the tragic death
of Violetta.

The smallness of the orchestra
and chorus, and even the opera's
being sung in English had little to
do with the quality of the Goldovsky's
performance. Indeed, this
was an ideal production for the
person who is unfamiliar with "La
Traviata" or Grand Opera in general.

After leaving University Hall
that evening, some friends and I
went across the street to Charlottesville's
most elegant pizza parlor,
and as sweet soul music emanated
from the juke box, in walked some
members of the opera company.
When all was quiet by the take-out
order window the juke box had
stopped, Miss Shade pensively listened
to a taped version of her
performance with a satisfied smile.