|
|
|
|
|
Chicago Sun-Times, March 7,
2003 |
|
Verdi: La Traviata, Chicago, March 5, 2003
|
La Traviata, Chicago, März 2003
|
AT THE CIVIC OPERA HOUSE |
|
Lyric
Opera has presented many truly memorable productions of Verdi's "La
traviata," beginning in 1954 with the legendary Maria Callas, and continuing
through the 1998-99 season, with sopranos Andrea Rost and Ruth Ann Swenson
alternating as the tragic heroine.
But the second cast of this year's revival, which bowed Wednesday night, is
unlikely to join this list. Though an improvement over the emotionally inert
Alexandra von der Weth, who sang the role earlier this season, Italian
soprano Patrizia Ciofi seemed miscast as the doomed Violetta (which marked
her American debut). Her voice, while sweet and laser-like, struggled to
fill the cavernous Civic Opera House, resulting in a sometimes brittle top
register. However, Ciofi compensated with her excellent technique, whether
soaring through the coloratura fireworks of Act 1's "Sempre libera," or
softly contemplating her last moments in Act 3's "Addio del passato."
As her lover Alfredo, German tenor Jonas Kaufmann sang admirably but
directed most of his ardor at the audience, instead of Ciofi. As
Germont, American baritone Kim Josephson, recently seen here in "A View From
the Bridge," barked through his role like a Parisian Eddie Carbone. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|