Franco Martorana, as Alfredo and Christine Steyer, as Violetta
in La Traviata.
© Oak Park Journal photo
La Traviata
review by Ed Vincent
The production of La Traviata, performed by Christine Steyer,
Franco Martorana, Paul Geiger, and Eugenia Cheng on the
piano, is a monumental step towards Oak Park being a true
Mecca for the arts. To be this close and personal with gifted
singers and musicians would cost hundreds of dollars per
seat at some of the biggest Opera houses in the world. The
show last night was phenomenal in all facets, singing
performance, piano, settings and narration. The performers
also came out and said hello and accepted many congratulations
from all of their old and new fans. If you write $50,000.00
checks to other companies you too will be noticed, but at
this production you'll get the same attention with just the
cost of a regular ticket.. The Village Players Theatre may
have to be renamed The Village Players Opera House, to
fit the injection of entertainment fit for Royalty and sung
often about peasants.
Christine Steyer, as Violetta charms and delights the audience
in La Traviata.
© Oak Park Journal photo
The show will be remembered by all who attended for many
years to come, and many in the audience wanted to see more
productions of this quality and art continue to have a home
in this facility. There was a standing ovation for the entire
cast and each aria was applauded often to the show's delay.
If you are a novice to Opera, the narration of the coming scene
told through the eyes of the father of Alfredo will feel just
right, and the text written by the gifted baritone Paul Geiger
is informative and interesting.
Franco Martorana, as Alfredo is powerful and grand.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Christine Steyer, as Violetta discusses her love for Alfredo to Paul Geiger, as the dad of Alfredo. Beautiful arias encase the scenes from above.
© Oak Park Journal photo
There is only one performance of this delightful presentation
left for this time, and that is Sunday at 3:00 pm. If you love Opera
or would like to see one for the cost of parking downtown this
is your chance. The ticket price should be 10 times as much.
Paul Geiger, in the photos above narrates the setting and history
of La Traviata.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Commentary by Ed Vincent
When
La
Traviata first opened to the public in Venice, the
date
was
March 6, 1853, and it was a flop with the critics of
the
day and the public as well. There were two major
objections
noted, one, that Violetta was so
young and strong
and then perish of consumption and two, that the people
in
the
Opera were dressed in contemporary (for
the day of
1853)
clothes-
no one wore modern
clothes in an Opera!!
perhaps is making its debut in Oak Park, with this bold production. The
songs will all be sung in the original Italian and instead of using projected subtitles, as the custom has become. The scenes will be narrated and setup
by this productions writings. The narration will be performed by the writer
of the notes and the talented barritone Paul Geiger. Mr. Geiger's voice is powerful and his vocal quality charming. His casting as the father of
Alfredo is perfect.
The sets have all been designed and painted by the multi-talented soprano, Christine Steyer. Singing is her bright star, but art design and painting
are a close second. She has helped illustrate books and executed some
wonderful paintings while singing for the joy of countless admirers. This
is a difficult role for a soprano to perform, as Verdi calls for a coloratura
soprano with elaborate embellishments - and Christine Steyer hits
the mark.
The costumes for this production are at the hands of one of the top creators
in North America, Lyric Opera's Kathy Rubel. The story is heart felt, bawdy, tragic, and peppered with gorgeous arias. Franco Martorana (as Alfredo) was wonderful in earlier performances in Oak Park and his gift as a seasoned tenor is gracing this upcoming performance.
Alfredo
the
lover,
nemesis, and lover again of Violetta illustrates the
fickle lust of humans and the far reaching grasp of true love, all with
the help of Verdi. Alfredo's father played
by Paul Geiger (Giorgio Germont)
is strong and powerful
in his sung voice, yet soft and caressing in his
libretto of
forgiveness. This Opera was produced 8 years
after the
death
of the woman who gave life to this tale of loss.
The
connection
to reality in this story is found now in the cemetery
of Montmartre (France). Located below the Sacred Heart
(Sacre
Coeur),
a Church colored in white, is the grave of a young
woman who died on
2nd of February in 1846, her name
was Marie Duplessis and she died
less than a month after
her 22nd birthday.
The
young
Duplessis is the woman that "La Traviata" is based
upon.
She had many lovers, but two of the more famous
men captured by her
beauty and charms were the
well
known writer Alexandre Dumas the
younger and the legendary composer
Franz Liszt.
by some of the top Opera talent in this region and our time. The
rehearsal before blocking, staging, or dress was a thrill to witness, the
show should prove a milestone for Oak Park. Get your tickets and
tell your friends..........
Order your tickets today (773) 445-6324. Tickets are $25 and $20 for students/seniors. For more information on the production, go to www.village-players.org.
Franco Martorana, as Alfredo.
© Oak Park Journal photo
© Oak Park Journal
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
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