A free-spirited courtesan is tamed by true love, but for how long? The tragic tale of Violetta Valery and Alfredo Germont has mesmerized opera audiences for decades with some of Verdi's most recognizable music and transfixing characters. La Traviata brings the 2010-11 mainstage season to a close in a lavish production with sets from the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Elizabeth Caballero (Carmen, 2009) returns to Madison as Violetta after recent performances in the role had Opera News calling her "an excellent heroine...commanding and vulnerable by turns." The young Italian tenor Giuseppe Varano makes his US debut as Alfredo, with Donnie Ray Albert (Opera in the Park, 2005) as Giorgio Germont. Maestro John DeMain conducts, with stage direction by Garnett Bruce. Raise a toast as we celebrate 50 years of opera in Madison... "Libiamo, libiamo!"
Cast
Production
Conductor: John DeMain
Director: Garnett Bruce
Featuring the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Madison Opera Chorus
Sung in Italian with projected English translations
Related Events
Opera Up Close: The Traviata Preview / Apr. 16, 2011 [more info]
A Golden Anniversary Gala / Apr. 30, 2011 [more info]
Pre-Opera Talks / Apr. 29 & May 1, 2011 [more info]
ACT I.
The courtesan Violetta Valéry has been out most of the night running from party to party with a group of friends, who are now continuing the festivities in her Paris apartment. Flora Bervoix, the Marquis d’Obigny, Gastone, and Violetta’s patron the Baron Douphol are among the revelers, as is a new admirer of Violetta’s, Alfredo Germont. Having long adored her from afar, Alfredo now flirts with Violetta in a rousing drinking song (Brindisi: “Libiamo”). As the guests move to another room of the house to hear an orchestra play, Violetta suffers a fainting spell. Quickly regaining her composure, she assures her friends that all she needs are a few minutes alone. Concerned, Alfredo returns and confesses his love (“Un dì felice”). Violetta makes light of his declaration – she seeks pleasure, not love...Click to keep reading.
Courtesy of Opera News.
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Act I. A party at Violetta's apartment in Paris.
Act II, Scene 2. A "Spanish soirée" at Flora's.
Credit: David Bachman / Pittsburgh Opera
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"Libiamo" - Violetta, Alfredo, and guests
"Sempre Libera" - Violetta
"Di provenza il mar" - Germont
Purchase this recording on Amazon or download on iTunes!
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon.
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Role: Violetta Valery
Recent Engagements: Frasquita in
Carmen with the Metropolitan Opera; Susanna in
The Marriage of Figaro with Seattle Opera; Violetta in
La Traviata with Opera New Jersey; Mimi in
La bohème with Florida Grand Opera
“Elizabeth Caballero made an excellent heroine, with a big, rangy, darkly glowing lyric-coloratura instrument... Caballero made a handsome figure onstage, commanding and vulnerable by turns and at all times believably the erotic center of this hothouse world.” –
Opera News
“Elizabeth Caballero provided the evening’s most show-stopping performance, offering a thrilling balance of pearly tone, exacting technique and brazen physicality...” –
The New York Times
Previously with Madison Opera: Micaela in
Carmen (2009), Opera in the Park (2007)
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Role: Alfredo Germont
Recent Engagements: Pinkerton in
Madama Butterfly with Teatro Communale (Bologna, Italy); title role in Faust with
Teatro Massimo Bellini (Catania, Italy); Rodolfo in
La bohème with the Leipzig Opera (Germany); Alfredo in
La Traviata with the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele (Messina, Italy)
“Young and promising...” –
Tempo Stretto
“The music is melodious, lyrical, and sinuous, ably demonstrated by Varano, who shows the character’s personality...” –
Italia Notizie
*U.S. and Madison Opera debut
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Role: Giorgio Germont
Recent Engagements: Mephistopheles in
Faust with Semperoper Dresden (Germany); Four Villains in
Les Contes d’Hoffman with the National Theater (Prague); title role in
Rigoletto with Vancouver Opera; Giorgio in
I Puritani with the Latvian Opera
“The depth of Albert’s baritone and variety of its timbres vividly colored his splendid singing...” –
The San Francisco Chronicle
“The real merit of the production rests with baritone Donnie Ray Albert...Albert’s conception of the title role is complex and dramatically true...larger than life but absolutely convincing...” –
The Vancouver Sun
Previously with Madison Opera: Opera in the Park (2005)
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