La Traviata is a story of societal expectations, illness, and sacrificing anything for love. Whilst this may be a story built in the 19th century, the themes continue to run strong to this day. Having been reimagined in 1930's Paris,
Hurn Court Opera have brought Verdi's classic opera to life and shone light on a fantastic cast of talented new singers.
For those unaware, La Traviata follows the story of Violetta. Violetta is gravely unwell and is aware that her time is limited. Upon meeting Alfredo Germont at a party, she realises that true love lies in candid moments of honesty and warmth. After deciding on a life together, his father suddenly puts a stop to their romance and tears the relationship apart in somewhat irreparable ways. After their separation, the pair must overcome their differences and realise their true love for each other to reconcile before it is too late. Packed full of emotions, this is a show that will take you on a rollercoaster of sacrifice and love.
Priding themselves on shining the light on emerging and new talent, Hurn Court Opera are an operatic company that pride themselves on giving this young talent the opportunities to showcase their talents within concerts, shows, and showcases. Having been running since 2017, they have shone the light on may new stars, and La Traviata was no exception to this rule with a fantastic array of singers within their cast.
Stepping into the role of Violetta was Caroline Taylor. An award winning soprano who captivated the audience with her vocals. I was honestly blown away with her acting and range, allowing the audience to truly be mesmerised by her talent. If she is not a big name in opera in the near future, it would be surprised. Similarly, her on stage lover Alfredo was played by Sam Britner. For a vocalist who is still studying at university, I was blown away by how talented his was at such a young age (21 to be exact). Both complimented each other so well on stage that the audience couldn't help but give a standing ovation at the end for their incredible performance.
That's not to say that the talent was fixed purely on the principal performers with Philip Kalmanovitch stepping into the villain role of Alfredo's father Giorgio. His sombre yet commanding demeanour on stage matched with his imposing voice and brilliant stage presence was the perfect contrast to the roles of Violetta and Alfonso. Each performer on stage and musician in the pit came together to create something altogether entrancing and magical.
Hurn Court Opera have a habit of finding talent easily and this wasn't just contained to their performers. The costuming was created by the Arts University Bournemouth's costuming course and my goodness was this nothing short of perfect. If I hadn't been informed via the programme that the costumes came from the university, then I would have believed that these were historical pieces that have stood the test of time. Each piece was meticulously made with such detailing that I was in awe. The glamorous ball gowns from the party were nothing short of perfection. These young talented, costumers have a long future ahead of them.
Hurn Court Opera are a special kind of company. Not only do they put on incredible shows that will have you in awe of the talent. The talent they source will be spectacular and will make you excited about opera. Continuing to showcase this fantastic show, it will be in both Blandford and Winchester across the coming days. To find out more click here: https://www.hurncourtopera.org/
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