EGA (Nov 2021)
The scenic space in the new normality of Covid-19. A graphic analysis of the contemporary production of La Traviata at the Teatro Real in Madrid
Abstract
In opera, a musical drama, the plot unfolds according to the descriptions of the different locations that appear in the text, but what happens when it is produced on stage? Such indications enable us to understand the composer’s intentions in his day; however, with the passage of time, they become a guide for an artistic team to adapt the stage space in relation to the piece of music, as and when necessary, by interpreting it. As a result of the regulations imposed by COVID-19, the conception of this space has been forced to change; so what happens when specific restrictions are imposed? The Teatro Real in Madrid has been the first such institution to come up with a possible answer, with the production of a new Traviata. Using graphic analysis and comparing the different adaptations of the work in this second stage of the history of the Teatro Real, it is our intention to demonstrate how relevant the spirit of Verdi’s work is at the present time.
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