A Violetta in Athens with Hollywood sparkle

American-born, lyric coloratura soprano Nadine Sierra is one of the brightest stars in today's operatic firmament. Her glorious, sensuous vocal instrument - without hint of the dryness often present in this type of voice - is combined with considerable acting skills and looks to kill: a combination of Hollywood and the pages of Vogue.

The Greek public first saw her a few months ago in the live relay of Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette" from the Metropolitan Opera in New York - a production so perfect in every respect that the cinematographic audience at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron) burst into prolonged, spontaneous applause at the end! Sierra is now preparing for her live Athens debut as Violetta in Verdi's much-loved opera "La Traviata" in a new production by Konstantinos Rigos at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (Irodion), which will mark the Greek National Opera's final show...