Past Performances
La traviata
Presented at Knox United Church, Parksville, November 2nd & 4th, 2007La traviata plays to a full house
By Steven Heywood - Parksville Qualicum Beach News - November 06, 2007
John Arsenault and Evelyn Thatcher led a strong cast in Vancouver Island Opera's La traviata on the weekend at Knox United Church
La traviata is all about the music and the performers in Vancouver Island Opera's weekend shows lived up to the high expectations established by the company's director, Tatiana Vasilieva.
From New York and the Hampton's production of the same opera in September, soprano Evelyn Thatcher was stunning. She returned to Vancouver Island after performing in last year's Barber of Seville for the VIO. Her voice is strong - a plus for the amount of time she was on stage and the range of emotion the tragic character Violetta must endure. While one expects an opera to end in tragedy, Thatcher's performance - and death scene - was staggering.
Vasilieva compiled an excellent cast around Thatcher - tenor John Arsenault's stage presence was magnificent, culminating in his emotional outburst to spite Violetta for spurning his love.
Baritone Willy Miles-Grenzberg played the foil to Arsenault and Thatcher's star-crossed characters, his performance outstanding. If music is the key to La traviata, these three led the way, as the opera called for many solo and duet performances. The main characters were backed up admirably by local singer Andrea Sicotte (an excellent local talent), the supporting cast and a chorus of marvellous singers.
Vasilieva hinted at a chorus which is at the top of its game, and she was right - they sounded like many more than their number, and they are all from the Oceanside area.
Of course, the music from the orchestra - led my music director Gerald van Wyck - was perfect.
Sunday's performance was to a packed house at Parksville's Knox United Church. Vasilieva and the VIO are hoping this, and additional sponsors help keep opera alive and well in Oceanside. La traviata is reason enough to hope the VIO endures.
