This performance has had relatively poor reviews elsewhere.
The first act has a glittering set, with lots of mirrors and doors - over fussy - and the two principal characters get to stand too far back, so that they can't compete with the orchestra. The very camp party scenes - well - very camp. One wonders why the producer didn't explore more gender possibilities if trying to bring this "up to date"!
Quite a lot of the chorus work was badly synced with the orchestra - and musically lacked sparkle and precision.
The second act proceeded as the first - until eventually when the "gypsies" arrived for the party scene again something changed and the conductor, orchestra and singers all came to life - the men in the chorus outshining their female counterparts at this point, but things were much better than the first act from this point on.
The last act was oddly staged, and instead of a bedroom the set was laid out with mattresses as a graveyard, perhaps doubling up as a doss house. Violetta was digging her own grave. Some would have found this set completely at odds with the normal presentation of this act. It really seemed quite well done, if one could stomach the approach.
I wasn't quite sure who the conductor was last night (Thursday 22nd March) - from the programme it could have been either Leo McFall or Toby Purser. Whoever it was he took a long while to get the whole thing warmed up. If he could keep the standard up to the level of the later parts he would be worth hearing again - but the early parts were plain dull. However, the failings may not all have been due to him though - there seemed to be too many problems and lack of musical co-ordination early on. Having a flashy set and intricate movements is one thing, but musically it would have been good to have better drive and precision for the first half, though the end of the performance was greeted with cheers which may by then have been deserved.
The first act has a glittering set, with lots of mirrors and doors - over fussy - and the two principal characters get to stand too far back, so that they can't compete with the orchestra. The very camp party scenes - well - very camp. One wonders why the producer didn't explore more gender possibilities if trying to bring this "up to date"!
Quite a lot of the chorus work was badly synced with the orchestra - and musically lacked sparkle and precision.The second act proceeded as the first - until eventually when the "gypsies" arrived for the party scene again something changed and the conductor, orchestra and singers all came to life - the men in the chorus outshining their female counterparts at this point, but things were much better than the first act from this point on.
The last act was oddly staged, and instead of a bedroom the set was laid out with mattresses as a graveyard, perhaps doubling up as a doss house. Violetta was digging her own grave. Some would have found this set completely at odds with the normal presentation of this act. It really seemed quite well done, if one could stomach the approach.
I wasn't quite sure who the conductor was last night (Thursday 22nd March) - from the programme it could have been either Leo McFall or Toby Purser. Whoever it was he took a long while to get the whole thing warmed up. If he could keep the standard up to the level of the later parts he would be worth hearing again - but the early parts were plain dull. However, the failings may not all have been due to him though - there seemed to be too many problems and lack of musical co-ordination early on. Having a flashy set and intricate movements is one thing, but musically it would have been good to have better drive and precision for the first half, though the end of the performance was greeted with cheers which may by then have been deserved.
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