La Traviata

La Traviata (Verdi) by Singapore Lyric Opera (Tues 290108 8pm) detail sekaley =p

I duno wad made me watch this XD it was after told bebek 'OK' then she lent me the DVD and i said 'hm.. sad story.. but nice songs..'..

Yesterday morning LIFE! section reviewed about La Traviata, made an impression that the lady casting as Violetta could not sing v well as she was 'out of breath' during the "drinking song".. the good reviews go to Alfredo and Monsieur Germont (i forgot wads the name of Alfredo's dad).. hehe oh they also noted that their acting SUX... but the last scene is tear-inducing.. so now.. my review

La Traviata is a story about a courtessan who fell in love with a young gentleman (viscount?/marquis?)... The first scene was where Violetta (the courtessan) hosted a party..

The settings were as simple as the 'scrooge'... it seems like it was made from cheap wood with simple colouring.. really.. no match to the grandeur in the dvd tat i watched... it's simply....... simple O_o... there were many people happily chatting and laughing in the party.. and Violetta sang her first song... it was beautiful! i was expecting much less due to LIFE! review =p hehe.. Came Alfredo... played by a korean man... (he sang tenor.. nice voice =] ) being introduced to Violetta by his friend , saying that Alfredo has been admiring Violetta...

Violetta brushed the 'confession' off and ushered her guests for supper.. it was then, the famous drinking song sung...

However, much to my disappointment, it lacks GRANDEUR!!! argh!! n even the orchestra failed me last night.. they failed to bring up the happy mood... I can only feel the rhythm of the drums and trumpets.... but no grandeur.. =.=;

Violetta is sick... but she let other guests to enjoy their night.. and she went into the room followed by Alfredo.. Here, they both acquainted with each other more and again, Alfredo expressed his admiration.. Violetta, gave him a stalk of rose and asked him to bring it back to her when it withers, which is by tomorrow (nice way to flirt hor.. just give a guy something that would wither the next day.. instead of saying 'see ya tomorrow' wakaka)

N this is the part where Violetta's feelings is divided between her own liberation OR the love Alfredo offers...

Intermission.................... here comes the complaints from both sides XD (nana coughed like crazy) while bebek said 'haiz.. she was out of breath!!' (well i didnt notice waakkaa)...

Second Act is about how Violetta retreated to a country house, spending her life with Alfredo.. but apparently Violetta needs $$.. so she sold all her carriages, horses, etc.. Alfredo found out about her plan and he went to Paris to settle (i suppose he paid everything for her).. Meanwhile, Alfredo's father came to visit..

He begged Violetta to let Alfredo go.. Violetta refused (DUH!).. the daddy told her about his daughter, who was to be wedded... but apparently the guy didnt want to marry her because of her brother's the scandal.... in short.. she would lose her beloved guy just becoz her brother is having affair with a courtessan... So, Violetta agreed to leave Alfredo..

The la traviata i watched on dvd was sooo much facial expressions... Germont actually 'accused' Violetta for living in luxury (living on Alfredo's money).. actually Violetta sold her possessions and didnt take $ from Alfredo.. she showed the bill selling her carriages n horses to Germont.. In the dvd, Violetta looked proud of herself and maybe hanging on the hope that upon seeing the bill Alfredo's father would then allow their relationship.. while the SLO's Violetta acted so rash and almost looked like she's in fear and desparate to shove the bill to Germont... =.=;

Here, Violetta begged Germont to 'love him like a daughter' or something like that, n to make known to Alfredo that she is letting him go because of love... Violetta embraced Germont.. but it looks er... terrible O_o' like she's molesting Germont O_O'

Then.. Germont left, Alfredo just came back from Paris... n he saw Violetta writing him letter (for their breaking up...) n Violetta kinda 'ran away' from him... Her gardener passed Alfredo the letter... n the songs makes me *Geram* O_o.. the translation is something like 'oh no.. letter from Violetta... wad could it be? (when he's already 1/2 opening it).. why do i have this strange feeling about this letter? oh nevermind.. i shall be able to find out what is it about soon....' my gosh O_o' im sorry Verdi.. but ur lyric seems VERY VERY irritating XD or maybe its Alfredo's bad acting that cant bring the feeling of 'anticipation'...

Alfredo was v angry when he saw the letter of 'goodbye' from Violetta n wanted to run after her but was blocked by his dad.. (Germont)... n germont offer his words of consolation, asking him to come back to the bosom of his family blablablala... n all the while...... Alfredo, who was in VERY VERY disappointed n heart broken state, just went to the wall, raised his arm against it and put his forehead on his arm.................... not 1 or 2 minutes u know.. it was for as long as Germont was singing and he was not.... PLEASE LAH!!! =.=;

Can't he do his homework, watch other movies... learn how broken hearted guy should look like other than being isolated, sticking on a wall like that =.=; GRRR.... Germont, on the other hand, he sang real well... He sang bass... with vibrato.... in every word..... tat makes me sick also =.=;.. well i dont like EXCESSIVE vibrato... im no fan of sariosas..

Next scene, is when Alfredo went to a ball where he KNOWS Violetta would be coming.. He gambled there and challenged Violetta's escort.. He won over the baron... (in the middle of these got 'entertainment' gypsy dance and erhm... wads that called the guy's dance? which... i dun find it WHOAAA either... i liked the song from the first time bebek introduced last friday... but yea.. the performance by SLO was just........ hm.... below expectations? huhu.. again, there was no grandeur in them... the orchestra also couldnt not bring the mood of the mysterious-ness and curiosity of this gypsy song.........

The guy's dance, was not bad... (matador dance, isit? im nt sure) there's some energy from them.. n since their song involves drums and percussions, i could feel the beat... but it wasnt FANTASTIC...

Afterward, Alfredo was seeking revenge becoz he was dumped by Violetta.. he throwed nasty remarks on Violetta and shoved his winning money to erhm.. Violetta's dress... Well.. at least he is showing his 'anger' this time XD... Violetta..... When she sang her sadness, the lights shone upon her were toooooooooo bright that makes her pretty gown ugly =.=; i duno.. but i find it ugly under that kind of light intensity.. n again, she was just frowning when singing.... which really IS a turn off to me.. =.=; i mean.. she is supposed to be devastated after sacrificing a great deal and yet Alfredo didnt know the truth.... she shouldn't be just SITTING there... facing the audience looking pathetic.. she should be weeping.. U see.. when she was singing, apparently she's singing in her 'thought'.. so she could have just acted it out abit.. after all.. it was just in the "thought"... when her 'part' of the song is finished, she could go back to her 'cold' front demeanor in the party...

well it might not be that easy to act it out.. but the thing is.. i dont really SEE the acting.. and i dont FEEL the feelings in their songs either.. *refer to phantom of the opera last year* whereby i clearly FEEL the sadness in the phantom even though i might not be looking at him... it carries so much emotion... n here.... none none none none none NONE!!! ARGH! Somehow i can only guess the meaning of the song thru the orchestra.. whether it is played in major or minor..

Ok.. i hate the 2nd act... well apparently my friends hated the part before the party.. but i think it is because, in the party, there was the dances that kinda "salvaged" this part of the act...

Come third act.. (mulai cape nulis) The part where Violetta is lying on her death bed.. in white nightgown.. Her face painted white (just like geishas).. n apparently, she had no $ too.. but yet, her charitable soul was undampened.. she asked her maidservant (anonia -wadever her name is).. to 'share' her $ with the poor outside... hehee.... eniweiz.. This part, it was quite sad.. because all songs were played in minor... (but again, there wasnt so much effect from the orchestra.. just that the tune is minor... but no 'feeling' u know?).. but Violetta's voice does carry emotion!! huehe.. maybe her forte is in 'sad songs' hhueheuhuee..

I learnt 1 new thing frm this opera.. long time ago, when u want to challenge someone for a duel, u would cast gloves on them... well.. my romance books did not mention this tiny detail =p hehe.. interesting ^_^;;

Alfredo, upon knowing that she was dying, was notified by Germont, his father about the noble sacrifice Violetta had done.. he quickly came to Violetta and sought forgiveness... and they spent a great deal of time singing together.. saying sorry and blahblahblah... Alfredo said she must be healthy again that they'll live happily blahblahblah... Violetta said she wanted to go to church and asked Anonia (i really forget wads her name) to help her dress... *this is another stupid acting*.. anonia just stood in the corner.. not responding to her calling.. which is STUPID! was it the choreographer who asked her to just stand there not doing anything? O_o really.. i was MAD at her O_o she's the worse character in this scene.. she was better at the previous scene O_o'

Violetta as expected, was on the verge of death.. she could not stand up and was dragged to bed by Alfredo.. Violetta asked Anonia to fetch the doctor because 'now that i have seen Alfredo, i want to live again'.. doenk! huehuee.. Well i suppose it was too late.. her illness (was not told wad the illness was!) was already incurable.. Germont came to apologize to her too... n the series of sad sad songs continued.... Violetta sang while lying on the bed.. which was really commendable! try singing while lying down O_o i would sound like a crow.. XD... n yea.. i think she really performed real well to the grand finale.., whereby she suddenly had the 'surge' of health and suddenly felt young and healthy again... n then.. she collapsed back to bed... that was the grand finale.. =] even tho its not THE grand finale one would expect, if u were there, u'd feel sad for her too...

Overall.. let me tell u... i think i blew my $60 for SLO... Okies.. maybe... this La Traviata worth hm... $30 for me... (I think $25 goes to the last act) Well at least they sang well.. really.. just that the acting..... u really cant call that acting.. (if u know those performance whereby u have the orchestra... and each singers come up on stage dressed in their costumes, singing their part and marches off the stage after singing and bowing to the audience... THIS is just like that... no visible acting)... the stage props were just... too simple.. to the point one might say 'ga niat'... n the changing scenes takes too long (i duno.. but at least swan lake and phantom used the 'movable' properties and were able to make it such away that the curtain would not go down unless necessary)... and yea.. the stage just seemed so.... 'spacious' to the point we cant lavish on anything... bebek's binoculars were used only on occassions.. really.. there were not alot of things to see.. XD.. just sometimes curious about their facial expressions... or 'wads this instrument that im hearing?'.. last complain... Violetta's dress on the 2nd act... my GOSH.. i find it ugly =.=; really.. ugly.... ugly ugly ugly ugly.. i shall not elaborate furhter for i duno how to describe her dress XD

Oh yea.. ofcoz the orchestra... were disappointing... so im wondering whether it was because it is in the 'theatre' rather than concert hall which has more 'echoes' / 'effects'? i duno... No doubt they play each note correctly n in precision but it lacks (what eng kee would say) CHARACTER... and feelings, ofcourse........ I couldnt hear the beauty of my fav instrument (flute) which usually would cheer up the feeling with its light tune...... the violins... when they do the (i duno wad its called.. but its something that makes me have goosebumps... -to nana: referring to the IFC song: when it is playing 'love... came down... atttt christmas...' -).... as i said earlier, I only liked the percussions and trumpets (i dun usually like the sound of trumpets =p) ....... GRRRRRRR.... oh more complaints:

Im nt sure whether the singers have to watch the conductors too =p.. because, at some point, Alfredo doesnt sing to the rhythm =.=;... the only person always singing in sync was Germont...!! eniweiz at the last scene, they all sang in sync (maybe it was easier to watch the conductor from the center of the stage and on the bed XD)

Worst acting goes to anonia.. (anona.. anina... whoever).. *clap clap clap...* congrats... u should tell ur choreographer to focus on ur role more... because in the last scene, there were only few people on the stage.. anonia's 'nothing-to-do-ness' just seemed more apalling.. =.=;

Best singing goes to Violetta.. hehee.. i like her ^_^ i duno y LIFE! commented 'badly' on her... the others also sang well.. Alfredo, Germont (except for the vibrato.. but maybe it was becoz it was singing in alien language to me that i find the vibrato really.... annoying O_O), anonia, Flora, Alfredo's fren.. they're good singers...! hehe oh ya.. in the program booklet, it was written that SLO is open for audition! n nana was like 'lets go lets go lets go..' XD ... go nana! just make sure u dont get characters like anonia for Turandos.. i would not pay another $60 to watch u being anonia XD XD XD no no no XD