Review | La Traviata | Manchester Opera House | 24 March 2026
- Mar 25
- 2 min read
Ellen Kent’s touring production of Verdi’s La Traviata returns to the Manchester Opera House for one final time, as part of Kent’s farewell tour. Offering a more traditional take on the Verdi classic, it does so with mixed success.
In a sea of bold and more experimental opera, there is something almost reassuring about seeing La Traviata still performed in a more traditional style. Whilst this approach should be commended and will please some purists, it doesn’t work as well as it should. Perhaps if all the elements were executed with a little more finesse, it may have paid off. As it is, the production regrettably feels tired, and as such loses its opportunity to attract a new audience.
With painted curtains providing much of the set, the staging lacks the excitement and opulence you may expect from an operatic production. Whilst it is important not to forget the show only plays in each venue for one night, audiences will inevitably expect more of a sense of spectacle in line with the iconic music.
Where the production does succeed is in its performances. Viktorria Melnyk leads the cast impeccably as Violetta. Her talent is undeniable, as she effortlessly projects to all levels of the theatre whilst remaining perfectly controlled. The calibre of the entire cast is superb and more than does justice to Verdi’s score. Sung entirely in Italian, the production is accompanied by surtitles, though the emotional storytelling is so clearly communicated that language rarely feels like a barrier.
That said, the music itself is unfortunately compromised by a subdued orchestra. It is unclear if this is due to sound mix, arrangement, or orchestra size, but the result is frustrating. They lack intensity and the emotion that to Verdi’s iconic score deserves to be performed with. This resulted in a disconnect, with the vocals outshining the music itself rather than them elevating each other.
Ultimately, Ellen Kent’s La Traviata proves to be something of a mixed bag. Whilst its faithful, traditional approach is commendable, without spectacle and greater execution it fails to deliver as well as it could. Ellen Kent's Farewell Tour remains in Manchester for the next two nights, playing host to Carmen and Madama Butterfly.
Note: My ticket was gifted in exchange for a review. This review is based on my honest opinion alone and is without influence.
