To be clear, the last chance is not for the immortal Giuseppe Verdi’s opera, but for the viewers who might still see it tomorrow, before the show closes at Opera San Jose, now at the peak of its 28th season.
Based on a classic French novel La Dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas, and the subsequent mid-nineteenth century stage play, La traviata (libretto by Francesco Maria Piave) continues to charm audiences around the globe with lavish depictions of Parisian demi-monde lifestyle, intrigue, and the tragic outcome of improbable romance.
Add to it the beautiful voices of Opera San Jose’s beloved principals, and the California Theatre special period atmosphere, and you get an enchanting evening of artful entertainment.
Conducted by the founding music director David Rohrbaugh with stage direction by José Maria Condemi, La traviata features two wonderful casts. On the night of my visit, Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste took everyone’s breath away in the title role of Violetta Valéry, a Parisian courtesan of astounding beauty and poor health, who takes her last chance on life and love with her new admirer, Alfredo Germont (Alexander Boyer).
Their escape to the countryside, where no one can find them, her readiness to abandon Paris for the young lover, and his deep devotion are proven short-lived with the disapproval of Alfredo’s father (Torlef Borsting) who holds the strings of his son’s financial and social future firmly in his hands.
Violetta’s suffering reaches its high note, literally and figuratively, in the last scene, where Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste shines in her dramatic representation of a woman in love, on the verge of her ultimate demise, catching a glimpse of illusionary hope.
Resident and debuting singers, Cathleen Candia, Isaiah Musik-Ayala, Justin Marsh, Bradley Kynard, Silas Elash, and Tori Grayum provided well-balanced stage support for the leads, accompanied by the Opera San Jose excellent chorus.
A fiery gypsy dance number, beautifully choreographed by Lise La Cour, was performed by Paola McCormick-Quintero, Analisa Sabo, Maurice Monge, and Robert Raney.
Set designs by Erik Flatmo, costume designs by Elizabeth Poindexter, lighting design by Chris Maravich, and wig and makeup designs by Jeanna Parham.
California Theatre is located at 345 South First Street, San José, California. Tickets are on sale at the Opera San José Box Office, by phone at (408) 437-4450 or online at www.operasj.org.
What’s next? Gounod’s Faust, April 21- May 6.
Images: Courtesy Opera San Jose.
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