Last Updated on January 9, 2026
Siobhan Stagg shines as Violetta in brand new Northern Ireland Opera production:
Ah, La Traviata! The world’s single most performed opera has finally arrived for a short stay at The Grand Opera House in Belfast. This brand-new production, directed by Cameron Menzies, the Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Northern Ireland Opera, is a glam take on Alexandre Dumas’s tale of the doomed courtesan Violetta, her cursed love, her unquestionable kindness, and, finally, her untimely death.
Menzies does not make much of Violetta’s terminal illness at the beginning of this production. Unlike many Traviatas, there is no consumption-related convulsive coughing from Violetta during the overture. Except for a delicately poised black silk hanky during the second half of Act II, the visual references to Violetta’s true state are kept to a minimum, which certainly makes for a more dramatic finale.
The curtain rises straight to Violetta’s seductive party. Her guests, all decked out in black, laugh and mingle, as, darting across the stage, they are enveloped by curved charcoal walls, focusing attention on the spiralled chess-board tiling marking centre stage. When Violetta enters, her bright red couture dress, designed by Linda Britten, marks her from the crowd. Adorned with enormous warped black sculptures, the set at first feels slightly Vogue-esque and as if the party was taking place on the set of a music video. As the darker elements of the opera reveal themselves, the sculptures feel more ominous, gradually becoming the visual manifestation of Violetta’s inner turmoil.
In the hands of the acclaimed operatic soprano Siobhan Stagg, Violetta’s character is certainly done justice. From airy courtesan to fevered invalid, Stagg nails every turn of Violetta’s heel. Needless to say, Stagg’s voice is like something out of a dream. As smooth as silk, and yet still able to cut through the orchestra, her grace on stage is pretty much unmatchable. The ease with which she traverses arias, makes Giuseppe Verdi’s most demanding phrases look downright easy. Stagg shines brightest when showcasing Violetta’s compassion and kindness, making her untimely death all the more painful.
Noah Stewart sings Violetta’s beloved Alfredo. His voice feels broader than most tenors, with his sound hitting your heart in sweeping waves. Stewart makes for a particularly suave Alfredo, and his cheeky brash confidence only leads to a deeper decline. Alfredo’s father, Giorgio, sung by Yuriy Yurchuk, possesses the same unwavering assurance but wields it self-servingly against Violetta and Alfredo, whose match he condemns. It was certainly strange to realise that Yurchuk is in fact five years younger than Stewart, given that he plays his father. Nonetheless, he embodies Giorgio’s gas-lighting intentions well, his booming baritone selfishly advertising his narrow worldview. It was an impressive performance, even if it lacked the gravitas of an older singer.
The Ulster orchestra started off a tad restrained. Under conductor Rebecca Lang, Verdi’s familiar emotional swells were handled with care but initially felt subdued. I’m going to chalk this down to first night nerves however, by Act II both the orchestra and the Northern Ireland Opera chorus kicked into first gear, leading and seizing the drama rather than being led by it, culminating in an immensely moving performance of ‘Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core’. Finally, special mention must undoubtedly go to choreographer Isabel Baquero and the chorus dancers, whose sweeping choreography brought vigour and intensity to the staging.
With only a week to catch the show don’t hang around on this one! If you’re in Belfast over the next week it is well worth grabbing yourself a precious ticket. One hopes, however, that this production will find its way back to an opera house soon.
La Traviata at The Grand Opera House in Belfast
Venue: The Grand Opera House, Belfast
Dates: 4 dates: 10, 13, 15, 17 September 2022
Times: 7.30pm
Prices: From £17.50
Booking Link: https://www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/la-traviata/
Address: Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7HR
Box office: 028 9024 1919
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