From the Director: La traviata

A CHAT WITH DIRECTOR E. LOREN MEEKER

Why La traviata?
"Producing Verdi’s La traviata is a fabulous honor and challenge for me as stage director. It is one of the most well known pieces in the operatic canon and therefore it deserves a place on the modern operatic stage, but it is critical to create a production that gives the piece agency and relevance to a modern audience. Producing this opera in 2024 means the cast, creative team, in fact the company as a whole, must delve deeply into the timeless themes and musical and dramatic qualities in order to bring this powerful work of art to the stage."

What do you connect to in this piece?
"The universal themes, gorgeous music, and the emotional power of Traviata makes this opera a dream to direct. The opera delves into the complexities of love, sacrifice, societal expectations, and the consequences of one's choices. Traviata explores themes that are timeless and resonate with audiences of any era. My challenge in preparing for the production was finding a unique way into the piece and believe it or not, I stumbled across my answer through a video on TikTok. "

Tell me more about the TikTok video and your inspiration for this production. Do you have a specific vision and concept?
"For this production we have rented sets and costumes that place the opera in its traditional, or period setting. So my immediate reaction as a director was 'what can we do through staging and character choices that will allow the cast to discover how Traviata still impacts our societal thinking in 2024?' I was struggling to answer that question for myself until I came across a TikTok video from John Green who posted in response to a viewer’s question, 'Can you connect tuberculosis [TB] to the Barbie movie?' Intrigued, I watched as he talked about Barbie looking like Barbie, at least in part, due to TB. He goes on to mention societal and fashion trends that extend back to the 1900s and upon further research, I discovered that his logic is fascinating. TB was heavily romanticized in the 1900s in Europe in highly gender specific ways. For men having the disease became a gateway to creative genius. For women, it became a way of easily achieving a beautiful figure thanks to the disease's emaciating effects - a shrinking waistline which places emphasis on the chest, the paling of the skin into a 'beautiful' alabaster tone, defined cheekbones, and large, glowing eyes. Fashion heightened the effects and soon pointed corsets became all the rage because they made your waist incredibly small, mimicking the coveted silhouette of people who were 'lucky enough' to contract TB. According to John Green, the desire for this disease and figure was so great that even while dying from TB herself, the novelist Charlotte Brontë wrote 'Consumption, I am aware, is a flattering malady.' Unexpectedly, through this one video, my world blew open. We can bring the themes of corrupt beauty standards and societal pressures to the forefront of this production. We still struggle with body image in 2024 and we still still struggle with fitting into society. Violetta may have a fashionable disease, but she also fights fiercely to be an independent woman who can love who she wants. This is more than a Pretty Woman story. This opera shows a woman at the height of her personal power, choosing to love Alfredo, a man from a family of a much higher ranking. Society looks down upon their union and initially she is willing to fight the court of public opinion in the name of true love. Only when Germont begs Violetta to consider the jeopardy Alfredo’s entire family is in due to her affair with Alfredo, does she end the relationship - not because she doesn’t love him, not because she isn’t willing to stand up to society, but rather to put her love first, to keep him from total ruin. With these threads of fashion, societal pressure, and love woven together I discovered a powerful heroine who is flawed, dynamic, and worthy of exploring with an audience."

Why do you think La traviata has endured so long and become so popular?
"Hopefully, through the choices we have made with the characterizations, the piece will feel incredibly timely and emotionally charged. I will credit the enduring popularity of the piece to the masterful storytelling and powerful music. The characters are multi-dimensional, facing moral dilemmas and personal struggles. Violetta is a complex person who undergoes significant development throughout the opera. Audiences can relate to and empathize with the situation Violetta and Alfredo find themselves in, making the narrative engaging and thought-provoking. From a musical perspective it’s hard to be better than Verdi. The opera is known for its beautiful arias, duets, and ensembles that convey a range of emotions, from love and joy to heartbreak and tragedy. Verdi’s music has the ability to create a visceral experience which, for me, is why I love experiencing opera. There is no more powerful combination of words, music, and visual spectacle. The combination of story and music allows this opera to address social issues such as class distinctions, societal expectations, and the challenges faced by individuals who deviate from societal norms. These themes remain relevant in modern society - transcending time and cultural differences by reflecting a deeply personal and human experience. At its core, Traviata provides an opportunity for audiences to reflect on contemporary issues through the lens of a 19th-century narrative."

E. LOREN MEEKER

E. Loren Meeker makes her Opera Omaha debut directing La traviata. Ms. Meeker has garnered worldwide acclaim for her keen artistic vision and rich, measured storytelling. With an international career spanning engagements across the United States, Argentina, Singapore, and France, Ms. Meeker’s work has been seen at notable houses including Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, Teatro Colón, and more. In 2020, Meeker was named General & Artistic Director of OPERA San Antonio. Most recently, she has directed La bohème at The Glimmerglass Festival, Romeo and Juliet at OPERA San Antonio, Così fan tutte at Arizona Opera, and The Marriage of Figaro at Austin Opera. Other notable credits include Santa Fe Opera, The Atlanta Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and San Francisco Opera