An experience of listening opera: La Traviata

"La Traviata" Opera
Sun 9/9/2012 3pm

Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra
Claus Peter Flor conductor
Sonya Yoncheva soprano
Jean François Borras tenor
Alberto Gazale baritone


VERDI La Traviata (Opera in Concert)

Ticket Price (RM): 250 | 180 | 130 | 60 
Dress Code: Strictly NO Jeans, denim, shorts,collarless T-shirts/singlets, sneakers and slippers at any time. 

Sat 8/9/2012 10pm - Sun 9/9/2012 1am:
Printing of synopsis and libretto for the opera while listening the opera in youtube. The ticket we purchased was with student price RM30 (since it is categorized in the MPO specials) instead of original price RM130 which is definitely worth watching! It's good that with student price, we can choose seats both from plan B and C (RM60). Together with my friends, who never watch opera live, we choose this concert simply because of the category and the price. The opera was scheduled on Sat night and Sun day, while only the Sun's was opened for ticket selling (Sat attendance was by invitation).

Now I came to know that this opera is adapted from a novel and composed by Verdi. According to wiki,

Today, the opera has become immensely popular and it is a staple of the standard operatic repertoire. It is second on the Operabase list of the most-performed operas worldwide, behind only The Magic Flute.

Sun 9/9/2012 3pm - 5pm:
Together with my friend, we went from Sg Besi, taking train to MPO KLCC. We reached our destiny by 2pm. Walked around taking poster picture, seeking for locker and toilets. People seems to wear more casual as compared to what I saw last time. Maybe there's a difference of day and night performance, my hypoyhesis: people tend to wear nicer at night. =)

In the ancient time without TV, I wonder opera would be their very expensive pleasure in their country, a good art to retain til today, and pass on to next generation, showing our human's creativity! Comparing what I viewed today, the opera showing from youtube is a more complete version with lotsa vocalists. However I prefer the soprano voice of today's opera (kinda lyric, not sure if coloratura). Also, she can sing softly while maintaining in high pitch. The opera today took only 3 vocalists to sing the 3 main characters: Violetta (Soprano), Alfredo (Tenor), Germont (Baritone), a simpler version. I guess the price would go even higher than RM130 if more vocalists are going to join in singing, and it is simple because the stage of MPO hall is kinda small to fit in both orchestra and the performers.

As I thought they wouldn't provide a libretto, I printed my own copy to allow myself follow the flow on what they sing. However, it's too dark to read in the hall, luckily they show the libretto on screen!

Outside the performance hall, waiting for entry.

The singers were great, I think their voice just suited to each every characters, the young lady, young man, and a father's sound. I even tear when Violetta and Alfredo struggled to get together... Soprano sang very high pitch and trembling my eardrum, tenor has a good voice yet for some parts his voice was covered by the orchestra; my friend says baritone is way better than tenor and the baritone is having more experience in singing, (no commend). Only one thing my friend commended was the light blew which representative the main character's death was blown too early but optimum to be blown off together with the music end. Lol... just a perfectionist thought.

In conclusion, it was tremendously great that my first time listening to a live opera was 'La Traviata'. Now I know the famous Libiamo ne'lieti was from this opera!

Here may you enjoy the famous part of the songs in 'La Traviata':