Last week, soprano Venera Gimadieva returned to Savonlinna Opera Festival to perform the role of Violetta in La traviata with critical acclaim.
"With only one guest performer, the Russian soprano Venera Gimadieva in the title role, the excellent Gothenburg Company gave their all, and Latvian conductor Aivis Greters offered a super-refined musical conception with minimal cuts.
Gimadieva is an experienced Violetta - a role she has sung at Glyndebourne and Covent Garden as well as the last time this opera was presented at Savonlinna in 2013. Since then her voice has developed spinto weight and colour, while retaining sufficient agility for a brilliantly despatched ‘Sempre libera’. In the more substantial demands of Acts 2 and 3, her soprano fulfils every requirement for the dramatic outbursts of ‘Amami, Alfredo’ and ‘Ah! Gran Dio! Morir sì giovine’. She also demonstrated remarkable dynamic control, singing ‘Dite alla giovine’ and her magnanimous farewell to Alfredo on airy threads of tone." - Operalogue, Hugh Canning
