November 7 Vallejo/Vacaville Arts and Entertainment Source: ‘La Traviata’ returns to the Verismo Opera

Since Eliza O’Malley first began with Verismo Opera, she has been familiar with “La Traviata.”

“It was the first opera that I did with the company back in 2009 or 2010,” says O’Malley. “I fell in love with it the first time that I did it.”

“La Traviata,” the story of a young Parisian woman in search of true love, is one of the most frequently performed operas today. The production at Verismo Opera opens Saturday with the Mira Theatre Guild.

“I love the opera so much that this is my fourth time singing it with Verismo Opera Company because it is just so beautiful. It calls me every time,” says O’Malley. In addition to directing this production of “La Traviata,” O’Malley is one of three singers cast as Violetta, the heroine of the story.

The cast has been hard at work since September, learning the music and stage directions, says O’Malley. However, the singers are all volunteers, which can limit rehearsal time.

“We only rehearse on weekends because we want to make sure people can earn a living during the week,” she said.

For the first week of rehearsals, the cast focuses on learning the music. Next, they break down the blocking, or the movements, of the opera. “Then we go back and we have a stumble through of the whole opera with each cast,” says O’Malley.

Most of the leading roles are triple or even quadruple cast in order to provide coverage for all the performances and in the case of illness.

“We’ve been really lucky that no one’s gotten COVID this fall,” she said, adding that performers aren’t allowed to come to rehearsal if they have even a cold. “We’ve had to rely on our deep casting to make all the rehearsals work.

“We have up to three casts who are all working hard inspiring each other and it’s just been a lot of fun working on the show.”

A large cast means a large pool of talent, a factor that helped decide this fall’s production, said O’Malley.

“When we realized we had the right people that were currently wanting to sing with us it just seemed like a great time to bring it back,” said O’Malley.

Those “right people” include Diane Squires and Kate Juliana, the two other performers cast as Violetta and two Vallejoans, Taylor Thompson and Senen Bagos, as Alfredo Germont, the leading male.

“It was an opportunity for Taylor’s first major role,” says O’Malley. “He’d come to all the performances before and he lives within walking distance and we really wanted to have a chance to feature him.”

In addition to “La Traviata” fitting the current talent at the Verismo Opera, the story and music has always stood out to O’Malley.

In the final act there’s a musical interlude at a very sad point in the story, said O’Malley. “Just the way the harmonies come together, it just makes me cry every time I hear it,” she said.

Verismo Opera, currently planning its spring production, has a message for the Vallejo community.

“It’s a community opera company and the longer we’ve been in Vallejo the more we’ve discovered local talent,” says O’Malley.

“We would like to invite anyone who is curious to come see the show and if they like to sing at all let us know because we could very well have a spot for them in the chorus or, who knows, maybe more,” says O’Malley.

If you go …

• WHAT: “La Traviata” with the Verismo Opera
• WHEN: Nov. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24
• WHERE: Bay Terrace Theater, 51 Daniels Ave., Vallejo

Originally Published: November 5, 2024 at 3:17 PM PST