The goal was to bring opera out of the theatre by 'invading' the landscape, with the audience as an integral part of the show. 'Riflessi d'Opera', the first Italian festival dedicated to immersive opera conceived by opera director Gianmaria Aliverta, closed to a sold-out audience after taking place in Orta San Giulio, in the province of Novara, on 24 and 25 July and 21 and 22 August.
The four performances of Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata, a dramaturgical adaptation for string quartet performed as a journey between the mainland (the village of Orta) and the island of San Giulio — exceptionally accessible at night — attracted approximately 400 spectators. It was also a new experience for the performers, as recounted by Leonardo Cortellazzi, a tenor from Mantua who played the role of Alfredo Germont during the August dates. "After having sung the role of Alfredo many times, I didn't think I would experience such intense emotions. The incredible setting of Lake Orta heightened the magic of Verdi's masterpiece." Olga Dyadiv is the soprano who gave voice to Violetta Valéry in the final two performances. "Singing outdoors, with the island of San Giulio in the background," she recounts, "erases every boundary between theatre and reality. Performing without a conductor created an incredibly intimate atmosphere, a deep bond and an almost telepathic connection between us singers and with the musicians." Meanwhile, for Gustavo Castillo, the Venezuelan baritone who portrayed Giorgio Germont, "feeling the notes vibrate over the water rather than in a theatre is an experience that left its mark on both myself and the audience."
Aliverta's work has always been driven by a desire to make opera accessible and close to audiences. This same vision also gave rise to 'VoceAllOpera', an organisation dedicated to nurturing young talent and bringing opera to unconventional settings.
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