Though it’s the singers who receive bursts of applause and “bravos” during an opera performance, the orchestra is anything BUT a silent partner. Arthur Fagan is the conductor and music director of the Atlanta Opera Orchestra.
“City Lights” host Lois Reitzes spoke with him about the upcoming performance of the beloved La Traviata, and asked him to explain his complex role in the orchestra.
La Traviata has been told a million different ways from movies such as “Pretty in Pink” and the musical “Moulin Rouge.” The Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi wrote the music for the dramatic love story back in 1853. Violetta, a young beautiful courtesan falls in love with a young and beautiful man named Alfredo.
Even though Violetta is ill, Alfredo does not stop himself from pursuing her. No love story is linear and throughout the performance, there is plenty of heart-breaking experiences.
This opera is a classic sentiment of love and loss and that’s why it’s still one of the most beloved stories of time.
