La Traviata – Leeds Grand

OPERA North last Saturday revived their recent production of Verdi's La Traviata for their winter season and we were not disappointed.

The Polish soprano Anna Jeruc-Kopec was warmly welcomed for her Opera North debut in the starring role of Violetta.

In the first act she coped well to avoid treading on her own writhing party guests and later concluded with a top E flat. This was a note Verdi didn't actually write, but it has been relished all the same by revered Violettas from Maria Callas down.

By Act Two Scene One, Ji-Min Park’s tenor voice for Alfredo had warmed up beautifully and the unusual inclusion of his opening aria's caballeta was rightly strongly applauded.

The third voice of the evening was Stephen Gadd's baritone belonging to Violetta's unwelcome caller Giorgio Germont, to put an end to the lovers' new life.

His eloquent singing defined the cruel truth of the librettist's arguments and with the production's Scene Two following unusually with no break, another cabalatta mirroring Alfredo's earlier one was unfortunately not observed.

Here in Leeds, instead of dying in her lover's arms as Verdi intended, Violetta's fate was strangely indicated by her standing up upon the bed with outstretched arms.

• Grand Theatre, Leeds, tomorrow, and February 14, 19 and 26. Call 0844 8482700.

John Pettitt