"LA TRAVIATA," UTAH OPERA & SYMPHONY, Capitol Theatre, through Oct. 22 (355-2787 or 888-451-2787)
Love is never straightforward, it seems — in life or in art. Such is the case of the ill-fated romance in Verdi's opera "La Traviata."
In opera, casting is everything, and the most important role — that of Violetta — was cast well with soprano Maria Kanyova, who has an amazing vocal and stylistic range. She sang with sparkle and beauty, from the awe-inspiring vocal gymnastics of the first act to the softer, gentler passages in the last act — and everything in between.
The only complaint about her voice was an occasional brief but tense-sounding growl at the onset of some of her vocal production. In a perfect world that wouldn't be there, but considering how great everything else sounded, it's forgivable.
Kanyova also did a nice acting job, creating a well-rounded and believable character with whom the audience could empathize.
Chad Shelton as Alfredo complemented her vocally, with a clear, light voice that carried well. His character sometimes seemed a little light-hearted, as in Act 3, when he came across as surprisingly giddy considering the circumstances of the scene. But overall, it was nice a performance.
Stephen Powell also deserves note for his strong, stern portrayal of Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont — which added a nice presence to the production.
The other characters were also on target, vocally and otherwise, which came together to create a good, tight production. Musically speaking, the only other slightly weak spot was occasional uncertainty in the orchestra.
Kudos to the set and costume designers, Peter Dean Beck and Susan Memmott Allred, respectively. When the curtain first came up, there was an audible response when audience members saw the beautiful and impressive set.
The rest of the elements — such as the dancers — came together to create a visual and audio spectacle that was truly a feast for the senses.
E-mail: rcline@desnews.com