La Traviata

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September 25 – 8pm
September 27 – 2pm
Brown Theatre

Conductor: Kelly Kuo
Director: James Marvel
Violetta: Elizabeth Futral
Alfredo: Sébastien Guèze
Germont: Donnie Ray Albert

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Libiamo ne'lieti calici (Brindisi)

ENRICHMENT EVENTS
Lunch & Listen |  Wednesday, September 9  |  noon
A collaboration with WUOL Louisville Public Media, produced in front of a live audience, featuring musical excerpts from La Traviata and interviews and commentaries by David Roth. Louisville Public Media  | 619 South Fourth Street
RSVP: Kate Kleinert at 502.587.8681

Sights & Sounds | Sunday, September 13 | 1:30pm
A partnership with The Speed Art Museum, Kentucky Opera staff and guest speakers that explores an aspect from each opera as it relates to a similar theme in visual arts at that time. The Speed Art Museum Auditorium | 2035 South Third Street

Act I - A salon in Violetta’s house; August

Violetta Valery, a courtesan, is throwing a party. One of the guests is Alfredo Germont who has loved Violetta from afar for some time. All sit down to dinner and Violetta requests a toast to which Alfredo responds (Libiamo ne’ liet calici). Eventually all join in the toast. In the adjoining room, the band begins to play and the guests prepare for dancing. Violetta feels faint and asks her guests to go on without her. Alfredo remains behind with Violetta and warns her that her lifestyle will surely kill her. He admits his love for her and offers her protection (Un di felice, eterea’ into Di quell’ amor ch’e palpito). Violetta treats the situation lightly telling Alfredo that he will soon forget her. Feeling better, Violetta gives Alfredo a flower and tells him to return it when it has faded. The guests leave.

Violetta muses on her potential relationship with Alfredo (Ah fors’ e lui into Di
quell’amor). Violetta shrugs off this sentimentality and decides to continue her life of pleasure (Sempre libera degg’io’). In the distance, Alfredo is heard repeating his love for Violetta (Di quell’amor).

Act II

Scene 1 – A country house on the outskirts of Paris; the following January
Violetta and Alfredo have now been living together for three months. Alfredo sings of his youthful passions (Dei miei bollenti spiriti’). Violetta’s maid, Annina, enters and tells Alfredo that Violetta has been selling her belongings to help finance their current lifestyle. Alfredo decides that he will raise the money himself and leaves for Paris (Oh mio rimorso!).

Violetta appears with Giorgio Germont (Alfredo’s father). Germont feels that his daughter’s upcoming marriage is being ruined by the scandalous relationship between Alfredo and Violetta (Pura siccome un angelo). Violetta reveals to Germont that her illness is quite serious and Alfredo is all she has in the world (Non sapete quale affetto). Germont remains adamant and tells Violetta that she will find others to love her (Bella voi siete, e giovane’). A heartbroken Violetta agrees to leave Alfredo (Dite alla giovine) and asks Germont to remain to comfort his son. She begs Germont to tell Alfredo the truth after she dies (Morro! la mia memoria). Violetta begins writing a letter to Alfredo but is unable to finish it due to Alfredo’s arrival. Violetta seems agitated but when questioned by Alfredo, she still declares her love for him (Amami, Alfredo) but then rushes out. After Violetta has left, a servant brings Alfredo her letter. Violetta writes that she must leave Alfredo forever. Alfredo is distraught and Germont tries to comfort him (Di Provenza il mar, il suol). Alfredo is inconsolable and knowing that Violetta has received a party invitation from friends in Paris, he assumes that she is returning to her former lifestyle.

Scene 2 – A salon in Flora Bervoix’s town house
Prior to her party, Flora and her lover are discussing Alfredo and Violetta’s break up. Alfredo arrives followed by Violetta on the arm of Baron Douphol. During the party, Alfredo and the Baron begin betting against each other, not concealing their hostility very well. Violetta is upset and as supper is served, she meets privately with Alfredo. Alfredo accuses her of returning to her former lifestyle. Violetta claims she now loves the Baron. Alfredo calls the guests together and denounces Violetta in front of everyone, throwing his winnings in her face as payment for their time together. Giorgio Germont has also arrived. The guests are outraged, Germont is reproachful, Alfredo is full of anger and remorse, and Violetta begs Alfredo to understand her situation.

Act III – Violetta’s bedroom; February

Violetta is dying from tuberculosis. She reads a letter from Germont telling her that Alfredo (who fled abroad after a duel with the Baron) knows of her sacrifice and is rushing to her side. Violetta knows her time is short and she bids farewell to life (Addio, del passato). Alfredo arrives and rushes into Violetta’s arms (Parigi, o cara). Violetta would like to go to church to celebrate Alfredo’s return, but the strain of standing is too much for her and she falls back onto her couch. Violetta begins to despair about her situation (Gran Dio! morir si giovane). Germont arrives. Violetta gives Alfredo a locket with her picture in it, telling him that he should marry and give this to his bride (Prendi: quest’e l’immagine). Violetta feels a sudden rush of life (Oh gioia!), but collapses dead on her couch.