Opera on the Harbour

After the fury of the floods, it was looking more like the wellies coming out of the wardrobes of the Sydney set, however the stars twinkled above Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and the rain had dissipated.

A huge chandelier was jostling with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge for centre-stage attention, but when the music began, the stage won out. Until the fireworks rained down – it’s the closest I’ve come to fireworks on Sydney Harbour without the crowds of a New Year’s Eve.

Presented by Opera Australia, Verdi’s La Traviata,  the story that inspired Moulin Rouge, is your typical opera where, spoiler alert, the girl dies. It’s a love story too. Violetta is a party girl who finally falls for Alfredo Germont.

Things seem fine while they are in the countryside together until Alfredo’s father comes and spoils it all, telling Violetta to relinquish her one chance of happiness with Alfredo.

In this day and age, it is hard to relate to her giving in but, of course, she must or there would be no story. Violetta is also quite sick, so while she leaves Alfredo and goes back to Paris, he follows her and they end up together moments before she dies.