by Anthony Savvides

Since August 11, Spoleto has been hosting the 66th season of “Stagione Lirica Sperimentale,” the annual opera season. The pinnacle of the season this year is Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata,” which was performed at the Teatro Nuovo Gian Carlo Menotti for six nights last week. And last night, September 23, marked the final performance in Spoleto, as the curtain closed on the season.
During director Carlo Palleschi’s final presentation last night, Sandra Pasterna, a young Spanish actress, made her debut playing the lead role of Violetta Valéry across Giuseppe Distefano, who played Alfredo Germont. As the orchestra performed from below, the story of the young courtesan who falls in love played out on the stage above.
The stage was redesigned for these performances and split into two levels, one representing actual events, the other imagined. Scene and costume designer Stefano Monti had the stage bordered by two towering silver frames. Large rose blooms, one red and one white, served as the backdrop to most scenes. One was placed on either side of the stage as the action took place in the forefront.
The story of the transience of life and happiness was successfully told, and the audience at Teatro Nuovo loved every minute of it. Loud applause met each close of the curtain between acts, with gentlemen shouting “brava!” after many of Pasterna’s songs. Upon the conclusion of the opera, the entire audience gave a standing ovation as the cast bowed gratefully.
For the following four evenings, beginning tonight, “La Traviata” will be presented in Perugia, at Teatro Morlacchi, at 20:30. Other performances of “La Traviata” can be seen at: the Teatro delli Illuminati in Città di Castello on Friday, the 28th 20:30; Teatro Mancinelli in Orvieto on Saturday, the 29th at 21:00; Teatro Cuminale in Todi on Sunday, the 30th at 17:00; and Teatro Lyrick in Assisi on October 2, the final day of the show, at 10:00 and 20:30. For more information about the show or to purchase tickets, visit tls-belli.it

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