Soprano Nicole Car returns home to rapturous reception in Opera Australia’s La Traviata
THE Sydney Opera House almost collapsed under waves of thunderous applause for Nicole Car’s extraordinary role debut performance as Violetta in Verdi’s sumptuous opera, La Traviata.
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THE Sydney Opera House almost collapsed under waves of thunderous applause for Nicole Car’s extraordinary role debut performance as Violetta in Verdi’s sumptuous opera, La Traviata.
Car was simply and utterly brilliant in the Opera Australia production that opened on Thursday night.
After giving everything — physically, vocally and emotionally — to her glamorous but tragic role, Car greeted the storm of applause like someone who had come home, switched on the lights and found a surprise party waiting for them.
As the audience went wild, Car’s hands flew to her face. She looked almost in shock at what she had just achieved.
The Melbourne-born Car has a voice that is beyond impressive. Powerful and open-throated, there was never a sour or strained note in La Traviata.
Nicole Car prepares for her role debut as Violetta
She combined this V8 vigour with a supple grace that made her vocal runs as natural and unforced as running water. She hit every high note like an arrow zinging into a bullseye. You were never in any doubt that she would get it right every time.
And to top it all off, she was lovely to look at and acted like a dream. Talk about having the whole package.
The entire cast contributed hugely to making this a truly memorable show.
Car’s leading man Ji-Min Park in the tenor role of Alfredo Germont, Violetta’s true love, took a little while to warm up vocally but by Act II was in full flight. Park was wonderful as the totally smitten and rather innocent young man who has fallen for the worldly courtesan Violetta.
Ukrainian baritone Vitaliy Bilyy was fabulous as Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s bourgeois father whose inept manoeuvres rob Alfredo and the consumptive Violetta of precious time together.
Anna Dowsley sang and acted superbly as party girl Flora Bervoix.
This is a revival under director Constantine Costi of the original production by director Elijah Moshinsky, with stunning costumes by Peter J Hall and lavish sets by Michael Yeargan.
Andrea Licata conducted the Opera Australia Orchestra with finesse and passion, setting the stage for all the other components of the show to come together to make one of the great nights out at the opera in Sydney.
Opera Australia’s production of La Traviata is on at the Sydney Opera House until March 27.