Greater Depth

Opera North's new production of Verdi's La Traviata was traditionally costumed, but this was no by-numbers re-tread of an old favourite, as was clear right at the start (Theatre Royal, Nottingham, UK, 26 November 2014). The fragile upper-string writing of the Prelude, delicately coaxed from the Opera North orchestra by conductor Gianluca Marcianò, was accompanied by a video projection showing, first, the TB bacillus multiplying, then a journey by endoscopy down into the lungs.

As well as confirming what the music was already telling us, it heightened the poignancy of the sudden switch to Violetta's party...