SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

Verdi, La Traviata: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of Juventus Lyrica. Conductor: Antonio Maria Russo, Teatro Avenida, Buenos Aires. 7.11.2009 (JSJ)

Director/sets: Ana D’Anna

Costumes: María Jaunarena

Chorus: Miguel Pesce

Cast:

Violeta Valéry: Soledad de la Rosa / Laura Polverini / Macarena Valenzuela

Alfredo Germont: Norberto Fernández / Santiago Bürgi

Giorgio Germont: Enrique Gibert Mella / Fabián Veloz / Ernesto Bauer

Flora: Eugenia Fuente / Guadalupe Barrientos

Annina: María Eugenia Caretti / Clara Pinto

Gastone: Sebastián Russo / Hernán Sánchez Arteaga

Baron Douphol: Leandro Sosa

Marchese D’Obigny: Santiago Tiscornia / Juan Feico

Doctor Grenvil: Alejandro Di Nardo / Román Modzelewicz / Claudio Rotella

Santiago Bürgi (Alfredo), Laura Polverini (Violeta) and Ernesto Bauer (Giorgio Germont) in the final scene.

For its last production of the 2009 season Juventus Lyrica staged La Traviata, resulting in the second production of the work in Buenos Aires in the year, but as it turned out different from the earlier one in almost every aspect.

Traditional and “period” in concept the production from the mother/daughter team of Ana D’Anna and María Jaunarena made effective use of simple scenery, alternating as inside and out, and appropriate costumes. Unusually Act II at Violeta’s country house was set in the garden – and both Violeta and Alfredo arrived with bicycles – although this was marred by the continual presence of a gardener “pottering” in the background. And in the final act Violeta’s furniture was already marked up for auction. With the musical direction in the hands of Antonio Maria Russo a reliable reading of the score was guaranteed and the chorus also was enthusiastic

The cast to which this comment pertains, on the final night, was the “younger” one – very much in line with the company’s mission of promoting young singers. Laura Polverini as Violeta has good presence and musicality and shows great promise. Santiago Bürgi was an expressive Alfredo, initially bashful, then confident, and finally broken with Violeta’s death. He doesn’t have a large voice but was sensitively supported by maestro Russo. Ernesto Bauer as père Germont was solemn but solid, while Guadalupe Barrientos was an expressive Flora. Annina was sensitively played by María Eugenia Caretti and Gastone by Hernán Sánchez Arteaga, Douphol by Leandro Sosa, D’Obigny by Juan Feico and Grenvil by Claudio Rotella were all satisfactory.

So ends Juventus Lyrica’s 10th anniversary year bringing to successful completion a total of 61 productions involving 452 singers playing to more than 180,000 people. With such a solid platform of experience and support, we look forward to an equally, and even more successful next 10 years.

Jonathan Spencer Jones

Picture courtesy of Juventus Lyrica, Buenos Aires