CSUN’s David Scott Dares to Stage a Thoroughly Traditional ‘Traviata’

In a departure from the increasingly common trend in opera, David Scott is not staging “La Traviata” as a morality play in modern Nicaragua, prewar Germany or the Spanish Civil War. The characters in the Cal State Northridge production will not be Mafia dons, Contras and Sandinistas, or 19th-Century industrialists.

Instead, the setting will be Paris about 1850, and the characters will be the originals: a pretty courtesan who is dying of tuberculosis, the rich young man she loves and the wealthy father who temporarily persuades her to leave the son alone because their affair is giving the family a bad name. (If that sounds like the film “Camille,” it’s because they were both based on Alexandre Dumas’ “La Dame aux Camelias.”)

Not that Scott, head of CSUN’s voice and opera departments, completely opposes the idea of updating operas.

“I did ‘A Masked Ball’ several years ago set in Central America,” he said recently, “and it made the most sense of any setting.” He also did a “Tales of Hoffmann” with acts set in the past, present and future, making the characters time travelers. “I thought it was fun, and it created interest,” he said.

“But ‘Traviata’ I wouldn’t mess with.”

Even so, Scott is following another trend in opera, an increasing emphasis on drama rather than on passing time between Verdi’s famed arias. “We are not making “Sempre Libera” the most important part of the work,” he said of one of the opera’s best-known moments, in which Violetta vows to reject love and live only for pleasure and freedom.

Instead, the young singers in the production’s two casts are learning to act and react to one another. He is quick to note that the singers are students and that the purpose of doing college productions is to speed their education.

Even the great singers had to do their first Violettas or Alfredos somewhere, Scott noted, adding that although the leading sopranos, Janet Momjian and Marcy Jan Moonschein, are doing their first Violettas, they will be closer to Violetta’s age than some of the more seasoned singers in major productions.

That doesn’t mean student voices are necessarily of a secondary quality. For example, Momjian recently won first prize in the Western Regional Metropolitan Auditions. The production also features William Trabold and Michael Anthony as Alfredo, Roberto P. Gomez and Nicholas Vetter as the elder Germont, Elisabeth Rundlette and Shannon Stoddard as Flora, and Lisa Kantartzis and Monica Shields as Annina.

Doing a production with two casts is almost like doing two operas, Scott said, but it is another part of the singers’ educations. One cast will watch the other rehearse, providing an extended opportunity for feedback.

As for the enduring qualities of “La Traviata,” it will be around long after such updated productions as the Mafia version of “Rigoletto” are forgotten, Scott said. “ ‘La Traviata’ is not indestructible,” he said, “but almost.”

“La Traviata” will be performed April 14, 15, 18, 19, 21 and 22 in the Campus Theatre at CSUN, 18111 Nordhoff St. Tickets are $9, $6.50 for faculty and staff, $6.50 for seniors Wednesday and Sundays, and $4.50 for students. Performances are at 8 p.m. except for Sundays, when they are at 5 p.m.

“La Traviata,” incidentally, isn’t the only opera to be offered this month. A student opera, “Vision 1 in E,” will be given April 27 through 29 at 8 p.m. in Roy O. Disney Music Hall at CalArts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia.

But opera is only part of the story. Although programs have yet to be announced in many cases, it seems as though almost every ensemble in the San Fernando Valley is giving some sort of spring concert--from new music groups to choral and symphonic ensembles, to the CalArts World Music Festival.

GUITAR RECITALS: Several guitar recitals are scheduled this month, including a CalArts faculty recital by Stuart Fox at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Disney Music Hall. Tickets are $5, $2 for seniors and students.

Olivier Chassain will give a guitar recital at 7:30 p.m. April 16 in the Music Recital Hall at Valley College, 5800 Fulton Ave., Van Nuys. Tickets are $5, $4 for seniors and students.

And as part of the American Guitar Society Series, Arne Brattland will perform music by Grieg, Duarte, Bach, Brouwer and Albeniz at 8 p.m. April 22 in the CSUN Recital Hall. Tickets are $11.

NEW WORKS: Contemporary music will be plentiful this month. On Friday, the New Directions Composers Group will perform new works at 8 p.m. in the CSUN Recital Hall. Tickets are $5, $2 for seniors and students.

A concert of computer music featuring dance, voice and percussion will be given at 8 p.m. Saturday in the CSUN Recital Hall. Tickets are $5 and $2.

The CSUN New Music Ensemble, conducted by Daniel Kessner, will perform at 8 p.m. April 14, featuring violinist and composer Dinos Constantinides. The ensemble will also perform at 8 p.m. April 30 in the CSUN Recital Hall. Tickets are $5 and $2 for both events.

ON CAMPUS: Percussionists will likewise be busy. The CalArts Percussion Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at Disney Music Hall. Admission is free. The CSUN Percussion Ensemble, conducted by Joel Leach, will perform at 8 p.m. April 23 in the CSUN Recital Hall. Tickets are $5 and $2.

Percussionist Ed Mann will give a CalArts faculty recital at 8 p.m. April 26 in Disney Music Hall. Tickets are $5 and $2.

INTERNATIONAL FARE: The CalArts World Music Festival will begin April 20 and continue through April 23, with performances April 29 and 30 in downtown Los Angeles.

A concert of Indonesian, Indian and African music and dance will begin the festival at 8 p.m. April 20 at Hart High School in Newhall. Tickets are $6 and $2.

In addition to performances April 21 and 22 in Hollywood’s Barnsdall Art Park, the festival will include Balinese shadow puppet theater, including a children’s show, and Indian music throughout the afternoon and evening of April 23 at CalArts.

GUEST PERFORMERS: Although chamber music will be more difficult to come by, a CalArts faculty chamber music concert will be given at 8 p.m. April 19 in Disney Music Hall. Tickets are $5 and $2.

And at least part of an education can be free. A cello master class by Heinrich Schiff will be given from 2 to 6 p.m. April 22 in the CSUN Recital Hall as part of the Music Department’s Guest Performer Series. There is no charge for people who simply want to listen to the master class.

CSUN professor Joseph Genualdi will give a violin master class at 1:30 p.m. April 29 in the CSUN Recital Hall. Free.

CHOIR CONCERTS: Among large ensembles, the Cal State Sacramento Concert Choir, conducted by Donald Kenderich, will perform at 11 a.m. Thursday at Valley College. Free.

On April 30, the CSUN University Chorus, conducted by Elmer Heerema, will perform Franz Schubert’s Mass in G and other works at 3 p.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church, 18425 Kittridge St., Reseda. Tickets are $5, $2.