La Traviata

Beginning his opera with a prelude for strings of unprecedented economy of means, in 1853, Verdi revealed his intention of defying conventions and norms. This is not the least radical aspect of his “Traviata”, which lays bare the society that promotes worldly pleasures only to sacrifice an innocent woman on the altar of bourgeois morality. Simon Stone, the well known stage director, grapples with the major works of Verdi's repertoire, bringing them into more familiar and accessible territory.

The Show

Violetta Valery is plagued by an illness that is sure to kill her. She knows that she is not left with much time to live, and as a courtesan, she has never experienced the magic of true love. She is smart, well-read, and charming; characteristics that were not common amongst 19th-century courtesans. When she meets Alfredo Germont at a party, Violetta is deeply moved by Alfredo’s honest demeanour and child-like attitude to life. She presents him with a single camellia and asks him to return once the flower has withered. Alfredo is overjoyed, for this was an invitation to a rendezvous in the near future.

In the second act, Violetta and Alfredo live a quiet life in the country, far from the bustling cities of Europe. Soon, Alfredo finds out that they are only able to afford their luxuries because Violetta has been selling all her property. He journeys to Paris in search of a way to earn an honest living, promising his beloved that he will soon rejoin her. In his absence, Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father, visits Violetta. He admonishes her for tempting his son into a shameful relationship with a courtesan. As the conversation builds, he realises that Violetta was never after Alfredo’s money, thus leading him to gently declare that it is not right for Violetta to remain with Alfredo, although she does indeed love him unconditionally. Violetta succumbs to the demands of Giorgio and takes up her old profession in the city once more. What follows is a truly heartrending series of events that is gorgeously depicted and expressed by the opera artists!

Good For

Fans of Romantic Tales | Lovers of Opera | Fans of Verdi