Verdi´s "La Traviata" in the Round and on a stage full of Steps.

 Students gathering outside the open air theatre in the Bergplatz.

Tuesday morning´s performance of excerps from "La Traviata"  was performed for students and schoolchildren, with two shortened scenes, and the story related to the young audience by a man who spoke such clear German, that I could understand most of it!   The singers and music were wonderful, even though I am not an opera fan in a theatre in the round.  I can sing oratorio, and have no qualms about a story told in song, but I find opera so unconvincing! Perhaps I am missing some vital element of understanding.  

The above photo shows the young students and we elderly, older ladies waiting to go into the theatre. Dark and threatening clouds hung over us, but fortunately only a few drops of rain fell to dampen our spirits.

A French Horn player passes the door, through which the orchestra can be seen warming up.
The information board gives details of the seating arrangements.

 The harp awaits its player on the steps of the Landesmuseum.
In one scene, Violetta hears Alfredo´s voice singing to her in the distance, and with the harp accompaniment, it sounded so romantic, but also sad.

 The Lion Monument is alway centre stage, with the seating set around.

The multi-stepped stage, which caused me a great deal of angst!  

This was not the easiest of stages on which to move around, particularly as many of the ladies wore high heeled shoes, and had to watch where they were stepping.   Am I suffering from lack of imagination or am I getting old?