Violett A Controversial Opera

We live to make our own adventures, but it is rather common to find ourselves diverted in others’ stories. In 1853, Giuseppe Verdi offered a new source of entertainment, as he presented the world with La traviata. Not only did it stir the European 19th century society, but it is still today a very controversial opera. Since its beginning, the main character, Violetta, became the central source for outrage and discussion. All because she was a courtesan, and this very well-known opera was seen by righteous women. The story portrays her as a powerful lady who is in charge of her life, unknown off at its time. Critics and opera specialists, sought to understand the opera as the decades passed and each director staged it differently. In 2012, the
He aimed to highlight her by using this color, since it is known to be attractive to the eye. As Verdi intended to, Violetta comes out as a sensual character , and red can only improve this impression. Moreover, the Set and Costume Designer, Wolgang Gussman, selected this scarlet dress to be a symbol for her mode of life at the moment. In the first act, at the begging of the Dell'invito trascorsa è già l'ora, she is wearing the dress and owning the scene as her friends come in. Simply having the dress demosntrates she is still living the party-life. Later on in Act II, she changes to a white night gown and floral robe. This letting go of her dress makes her a common woman, living with a man. She has lost the power to the love, but gained peace. When she leaves Alfredo she re-wears her garb, symbolizing her return to the concubine life and her power as a woman. Additionally, the dress can be seen early at Flora’s party, worn by a man reminding Violetta and Alfredo of Violetta’s past. The man uses the dress as a prop to characterize her social status as a joke. But in truth when she wears the dress, she embodies the main theme of the
Dessay runs from left to right through Act I. In general, she is given room, so even when others are around, the audience can see her sitting on the couch wondering what to do about her love for Alfredo . Her presence is highlighted with space and she, therefore, represents a larger source of power within La traviatta. It symbolizes Violetta’s character and her purposeful life. The minimalistic approach to the scenery by Gussman permits the audience to further comprehend the character Verdi wished to portray. As Alexandra Wilson noted in her analysis of the current changes in opera, this performance’s “tendency has moved towards scenic abstraction.” Moreover, the movement gives the sense of activity only the powerful have. Interestingly, Violetta is a sick but her fight against it requires exaggerated movement to be truly understood, proving her