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Journalism of Courage
La Traviata, the legendary Italian opera by Verdi, will debut in Delhi with a 34-member cast
On a bright Tuesday morning eleven members of the Italian orchestra, Filarmonica de Palermo, gathered at Nizamuddin’s Community Centre with a mélange of instruments like the bassoon, the French horn, the cello and the clarinet. The orchestra conductor energetically guided the troupe to create a dazzling sound, alternately soaring and suddenly quiet, ultimately leading to a melodic climax, before they took a short break.
The Filarmonica de Palermo is practicing for La Traviata— Giuseppe Verdi’s legendary story from 19th century bohemian Paris about courtesans and rich Parisians, which will debut in Delhi with a 34 member cast. Presented by The Neemrana Foundation, Italian Cultural Institute and ICCR— the opera produced by Italian Giulio Pirrota is all set for a classic revival.
“The opera is about two lovers, a prostitute Violetta and her high-brow lover Alfredo who are bound by the morals of the society and their crusty father. There is a lot of dance and music but it is evocative enough to move the audience to tears,” says Pirrota on the first day of the rehearsal. The opera features four soloists and 11 musicians. It opens with the last scene where Violetta, played by soprano Aude Priya is reading the letter by her lover Alfredo, when his father intercepts and raises her hopes about arranging a meeting between the two estranged lovers.
Priya, half French by birth, has performed in Carmen staged earlier this year and Pearl Fishers is all set to do a retake this time with La Travaita (she performed in 2006 and 2007). “We are performing Verdi’s original,” shares Pirrota.
Barring the glittering backdrop of decadent houses and pastel cushioned rooms, stage director Guiseppe Cutino says, “In the productions the set is essentially a window to symbolize Violetta’s room and a bed from which Violetta remembers the good dreams of happiness as well as the bad dreams.
La Traviata opens in Delhi on November 9 and 10 at the Shri Ram Centre (40548216)
