This revival of Richard Eyre’s staging continues to play until the 17th February.
Broadway World: ***** “Where Eyre’s perennial Traviata does get a breath of new life is in the individual performances. Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho injects a certain haughtiness in Violetta throughout proceedings, an air of defiant pragmatism even as she faces a lonely death, only occasionally betraying hints of vulnerability and self-doubt. Opposite this perpetual survivor is Giovanni Sala as Alfredo, buoyed by an stubborn earnestness that lends Violetta, and the text as a whole, a romantic touchstone.”
London Theatre.co.uk: **** “Eyre’s production may not be the most mould-breaking you’ll see, but it’s lucid and directed with a theatrical eye for detail. It’s clear why it has become such a well-loved staple, and the story of La traviata lands with particular resonance in an age of increasing wealth gaps, unstable politics and grinding poverty.”
Bachtrack: ***** “What makes this one so special? Let me count the ways. Jaho, of course, who never prettifies her performance and even incorporated an alarming death rattle into her final scene. She allowed her voice to fade in places, then to come back strongly, always with dramatic intent. Her performance was so intelligent, so deeply considered, that it transcended mere beauty and even, in places, audibility. Her reactions and interactions were subtle yet truthful, as witness the eloquence of her silence when the irascible Giorgio Germont (Aleksei Isaev) fails to heed her announcement that she’s dying.”
The Telegraph: **** “Richard Eyre’s production of the heart-rending La traviata makes an impressive return to Covent Garden.”
The Stage: **** “Both musically and dramatically, this Traviata revival scores highly.”
London Unattached: ***** “With the resources of the Royal Opera behind it, this production was Grand Opera at its finest. With Verdi’s melodies propelling the emotion with enough force to break down even the hardest of hearts, the grandeur of the sets and costumes and some terrific and dramatically intelligent singing all coalesced to create a fabulous evening of opera.”
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