‘La Traviata’ gets passionate production

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Ren/e Fleming as Violetta, Rolando Villaz—n as Alfredo, Renato Bruson as Germont; James Conlon conducts.

The eagerly awaited pairing of soprano Renée Fleming with tenor Rolando Villazon resulted in a beautifully realized production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” by the Los Angeles Opera at the Music Center. Fleming, who has been enchanting audiences for many years, played the courtesan Violetta, exhibiting her gorgeous, marshmallow voice and showing why this has become her signature role. Villazon, a relative newcomer, plays Alfredo Germont with wit and passion.

Luring Fleming to the Los Angeles Opera was a mission that only Placido Domingo, its general director, could accomplish. Alas, this “Traviata” played for only three days, but the fortunate audiences experienced an exceptional display of musicianship and passion. Violetta gives up her voluptuous life as a demi-mondaine when, with Alfredo, she finds true love. This is Paris in the early 1800s and living “in sin” was not countenanced by Alfredo’s bourgeois father, who breaks up the affair.

Fleming and Villazon are thrilling as the lovers, both having beautiful voices and the ability to act. Renato Bruson sang the role of the outraged father. Although his singing could not be faulted, he acted woodenly, like most other Germonts. Others in the cast were the reliable Suzanna Guzman, Anna Alkhimova, Daniel Montenegro and James Creswell.

The opulence of the period was captured in the sets and the costumes. Unlike a previous production, which was updated to the 1920s, these performances were set in the proper time. Marta Domingo served as director and had everything moving smoothly.

James Conlan made his debut as the conductor of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and was splendid. He brings with him the experience of having served as conductor of the Paris and Cologne opera orchestras. This is one opera where the arias are “hummable.”

Look for more fireworks from Villazon when he teams up with Anna Netrebko in “Manon,” which begins Sept. 30.