Elijah Moshinsky’s 1994 production of La Traviata must surely delight anyone seeing it for the first time, but those who have had the good fortune of experiencing its Belle Époque beauty and drama on multiple occasions could become complacent. To make them sit up and take notice, some exceptional singing may be required – which was duly delivered on opening night of Opera Australia’s Melbourne autumn season. Having heard marvellous reports about soprano Stacey Alleaume’s starring roles in Sydney over recent years, Melbourne finally got the chance to be dazzled as she made her hometown mainstage debut. Has this venerable production ever had a better Violetta?

Stacey Alleaume and Ho-Yoon Chung in La Traviata, Opera Australia, 2022. Photo © Jeff Busby

First performed in Venice in 1853, Verdi’s La Traviata is a classic melodrama about wealthy courtesan Violetta, who gives it all away for the man who truly loves her, Alfredo. His father, Giorgio, persuades the distraught and consumptive ‘fallen woman’ of the title to give him up, and tragedy ensues.

Violetta goes on a rollercoaster ride of emotion, a journey Alleaume seems to make almost...