Sandis Voldins: Opera needs to return to beauty
The head of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, Sandis Voldins, believes that after the pandemic people long for simple and beautiful things, so the theater focuses on aesthetics, as seen in the new production of Puccini's "La Bohème".
Sandis Voldins, the head of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, commenting on the recent premiere of Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Bohème" directed by Laura Groza, expressed his conviction that people today are thirsty for simple, uncomplicated, and simply beautiful things. According to him, the theater is concentrating precisely on this aspect – beauty.
Voldins noted that Maslow's hierarchy of needs does not work in opera, as the purpose of opera is not primarily to satisfy basic needs but to provide aesthetic and spiritual pleasure. He emphasized that after the long pandemic period, audiences especially appreciate visual and sonic beauty rather than complex messages.
The new production of "La Bohème", in Voldins's view, is a good example of this approach – it combines classical music with modern visual aesthetics to create a pleasant and restful experience for the audience. Director Laura Groza uses minimalism and symbolism in the staging while preserving the emotional depth of the opera.
