On June 5th and 6th this year, Loughcrew House (Oldcastle, Co. Meath) will host its 11th Garden Opera. Producer/Director Niall Morris spoke with Culch.ie in the run up to the event… Morris wanted his La Traviata to reflect Verdi’s original plan for the opera (Verdi was forced by La Fenice authorities to transpose the setting back 150 years, rather than have the story unfold in a contemporary setting) and so he has brought the story to 1950s New York, with Violetta as a kept woman in a suite at the Waldorf Astoria. His inspiration for the story was a picture of Babe Paley – a socialite of the time – which now features on the advertising material for the opera. He was taken by her humble origins and wealthy marriages which ultimately reflect the role of Violetta. Casting the opera with Claudia Boyle, Dwayne Jones and Craig Smith in the lead roles, … There’s more →