La Traviata Goes Modern at La Fenice

Our most recent buying trip in Venice was a huge success (incredible things arriving very soon!) but culturally inspiring as well. Not only were Jean-Marc and Jean-Noel tempted by the Biennale, Venice’s amazing biennial art exhibition held at the Giardini and the Arsenale and throughout Venice (running through November 27th), but “La Traviata” was playing at La Fenice and tickets were still on sale!

Entrance of La Fenice.

They lucked out and scored some tickets. It was opening night of Robert Carsen’s controversial “sex-and-money” version of Verdi’s La Traviata. A perfect Italian evening, resplendent in every way – here’s a glimpse of this iconic opera house and the surprising modern set of La Traviata:

Entering the Teatro.

Inside La Fenice.

Robert Carsen's modern set for La Traviata.

The "greenback forest" in La Traviata.

Inspired by Verdi's description of his opera as "a subject from our own time," Carsen turns Violetta into a prostitute from the 60’s, when sexual and social boundaries were collapsing. The sex-and-money theme carries through from start to finish, opening with men tossing dollars into Violetta’s hands as she reclines on an enormous bed. Act II takes place in a forest blanketed with dollar bills and the party scenes are gay and blatantly sexual – especially Flora’s party which takes place in a Vegas casino with cowboys and cowgirls in glittery costumes and bare bottoms!

Scene from Flora's party in La Traviata.

Cowgirl in Vegas in La Traviata.

Quite a show! We loved the mid-modern sets with touches of Art Deco here and there… stunning Murano glass chandeliers, silver-leafed furniture, and glamorous mid-century modern mirrored furniture.

Violetta's bedroom in La Traviata.

The auditorium at La Fenice is not hard on the eyes either, with its frescoed ceiling, its spectacular chandelier (an exact reproduction of the massive 12-branch bronze chandelier by Giovanni Battista Meduna, architect for the reconstruction of the theatre after a previous fire in 1836), and the dimly lit gold-leafed sconces that embellish the box seats and make for a very romantic setting indeed.

Box seats at La Fenice.

La Fenice chandelier.

Wall sconces at La Fenice.

A fitting introduction to this impressive theatre, as La Traviata made its world premiere here in 1853 and was the first opera production to open in the rebuilt Fenice in  2004. Bravissimo!