Though Verdi’s opera and arias have been performed regularly in Malaysia, experiencing La Traviata fully-staged is a rare treat. Kuala Lumpur City Opera (KLCO) will be presenting the popular opera from 27-30 June 2019 at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac).
An opera in three acts by the legendary Italian and composer Giuseppe Verdi with libretto in Italian by Francesco Maria Piave, premiered in Venice at La Fenice opera house on March 6, 1853. Based upon the 1852 play by Alexandre Dumas fils (La Dame aux camélias), the opera marked a large step forward for Verdi in his quest to express dramatic ideas in music. La traviata means “the fallen woman” or “the one who goes astray” and refers to the main character, Violetta Valéry, a beloved Parisian courtesan who suffers from a life-threatening illness.
KLCO established since 2012, is the only active opera company in the country presenting and promoting western operas. Some of KLCO’s past productions include Puccini’s La Bohème, Madama Butterfly, Bizet’s Carmen, Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, La fille du régiment, Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, Mozart’s masterpiece, The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel.
When Violetta meets a man named Alfredo, the two fall deeply in love and move to the countryside together. One day, Alfredo’s father Germont visits Violetta and asks her to break up with his son to preserve their family’s reputation. She reluctantly agrees and ends the relationship without giving Alfredo a reason, which leaves him devastated. But in Violetta’s final days, Germont is overcome with guilt and tells his son to go reunite with his true love.
Conducting an orchestra ensemble of 24 players is renowned Colombian Conductor, Juan Montoya. Mr. Montoya has been the recipient of several scholarships and prizes as a Pianist and Composer. He has been the principal conductor at KLCO in Malaysia since 2014. KLCO welcomes back award winning stage director, Christopher Ling who had previously directed KLCO’s productions L’elisir d’amore, La Bohéme and Hansel & Gretel.
KLCO’s production of La Traviata will feature a double cast for the leading roles of Violetta Valéry, Alfredo Germont and Giorgio Germont. Ang Mei Foong, soprano who was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy last year by His Excellency Ambassador of Italy Cristiano Maggipinto will sing the role of Violetta on 27 and 29 June with tenor, Tan Chee Shen as Alfredo Germont. Making her KLCO debut, soprano Joyce Khoo who hails from Penang will perform the role on 28 and 29 June with tenor, Yap Jin Hin.
Making their debut with KLCO, Aw Yeow Hoay, Penangite bass-baritone who is based in Köln, Germany and Singaporean baritone, Martin Ng will sing the role of Giorgio Germont. Other members of the casts comprise of Chaing YiLing who sings the role of Flora Gervoix, Violetta’s best friend; Heo Yueh Ren, sings Gastone de Letorières who introduces Alfredo to Violetta; Samuel Lim, Dr. Grenvil, James Long, Baron Duphol; Joseph Ng, Marquis d’obigny and Suzuki Saori, sings the role of Annina, Violetta’s faithful servant. The cast will be supported by a 50-member KL City Opera Chorus.
Date and time:
Thu 27 June, 2019, 8:00PM
Fri 28 June, 2019; 8:00PM
Sat 29 June, 2019; 8:00PM
Sun 30 June, 2019; 8:00PM
Free pre-performance talk half an hour before the show.
Venue
Pentas 1, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)
Jalan Strachan off Jalan Ipoh
51100 Kuala Lumpur
Production & Artistic Team
Executive Producers — Danny Chen & Ho Soon Yoon
Conductor — Juan Montoya
Stage Director — Christopher Ling
Chorus Master — Chi Hoe Mak
Concert Master — Wong Lu Ee
Répétiteur – Tomonari Tsuchiya, Alice Ang
Costume Design — Dominique Devorsine
Casts
27, 29 June
Violetta – Ang Mei Foong
Alfredo – Tan Chee Shen
Giorgio Germont – Aw Yeow Hoay
28, 30 June
Violetta – Joyce Khoo
Alfredo – Yap Jin Hin
Giorgio Germont – Martin Ng
Flora Bervoix – Chaing YiLing
Annina – Saori Suzuki
Gastone de Letorières – Heo Yueh Ren
Baron Douphol – James Long
Marquis D’obigny – Joseph Ng
Dottore Grenvil – Samuel Lim
Giuseppe – Alphonsus Sim
Featuring
KL City Opera Chorus
KL City Opera Orchestra Ensemble
