​The opera world resounds with tales of bribery and corruption but fortunately such tactics were not needed by Duchy Opera in persuading P&J Print (Newquay) to halt their imminent print run of 4000 programmes for an urgent edit.A demanding schedule of performances of Verdi’s much-loved opera La Traviata at the Minack Theatre necessitates double casting the leading roles but when one of the designated Violettas suddenly had to withdraw from th...e role last Monday consternation ensued. Director of the show, Penzance-born Richard Jackson, with his connections as teacher in the main London Music Colleges, pulled out all the stops and to the delight of all concerned succeeded in engaging Alinka Kozári for this demanding role. Hungarian born soprano Alinka, now resident in the UK, is a graduate of the Franz Liszt Music Academy, Budapest and the National Opera Studio, London and made her début in the role of Violetta for Iford Arts Festival in summer 2013, also singing the role with Diva Opera in France and in Drapers’ Hall, London.
La Traviata will also be performed in Falmouth’s Princess Pavillion on June 9th & 10th when leading local soprano Cheryl Brendish will be singing the role of Violetta , sharing it with Alinka at the Minack (July 3rd – 7th). Falmouth Tickets are available from www.crbo.co.uk/duchyopera 01726 879500; Minack tickets: www.minack.com 01736 810181

Rehearsals are well under way now for La Traviata, ​next year's big Duchy Opera production:
our orchestra is in place, soloists have been auditioned and new singers have joined the Chorus in preparation for this musical treat. Costumes are being designed, colours chosen and staging envisioned.

​​The opera is based on Alexandre Dumas' (fils) novel La Dame aux camellias and was first performed at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice in 1863. Apparently, the soprano was 'unsatisfactory', the tenor was 'not in good voice', and the baritone was unhappy singing in an opera with 'no intrigues', 'no duels', and 'none of the trappings of high romance'. After the first night Verdi himself described it as a 'fiasco' after the audience had laughed at the thought of an extremely stout lady dying of consumption.

​Before you decide to cross the tickets off your Christmas list let me reassure you. The Venetians heard La Traviata again just over a year later. This time it was pronounced an overwhelming success and was produced throughout Italy. then Europe, and soon became the most talked-of opera of its day. Fiona Maddocks in the Guardian described it as one of the top 50 operas, and as perhaps Verdi's most performed work, containing all the elements of operatic addiction: a beautiful, consumptive, fallen-woman heroine, grand Parisian party scenes, the travails of love, a troubled father and a deathbed scene, all set to Verdi's faultless score.

​What's not to like?