La Traviata (The Fallen Woman) is Giuseppe Verdi’s Italian opera about the ill-fated love between courtesan Violetta and Alfredo.
The Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave is based on the Alexandre Dumas fils semi-autobiographical novel La Dame aux camélias (1852).
The opera premiered at La Fenice in Venice, Italy in 1853.
La Traviata 2019-20
Michael Myer’s 2018 production returns.
Cast January 10 to February 7
Aleksandra Kurzak and Quinn Kelsey star.
Cast February 26 to March 19
Lisette Oropesa and Luca Salsi star.
Get tickets from $30 at metopera.org
La Traviata
La Traviata is an Italian opera written by Giuseppe Verdi with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It premiered at the Teatro la Fenice in Venice, Italy in 1853.
La Traviata is one of the best-loved operas. It’s the story of an elegant courtesan who is trying to improve her station in life. Violetta is one of the pinnacles of the soprano repertoire.
“Sempre libera degg’io” in Act I and “Addio, del passato” in Act III are favorite arias.
Librettist Maria Piave worked with Verdi during his middle period on operas including Ernani, Macbeth, Rigoletto and La Forza del Destino.
The opera is set in 1850s Paris. It is based on La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas. He was inspired by his own relationship with a famous French prostitute. Men are easily manipulated with sex (or so I am told). The story made it to film in Camille (1936) starring Greta Garbo.
La Traviata 2018
Michael Mayer’s new production of Verdi’s Italian opera La Traviata, opens with a gala production at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Gala cocktails and dinner at 6pm. From $2,000. Premiere performance at 8pm. From $37.
Christine Jones designed the set. Susan Hilferty designed the costumes. Kevin Adams designed the lighting. Lorin Latarro did the choreography.
The opera runs for 3 hours and 7 minutes with two intermissions.
Fall/Winter Cast
Yannick Nézet-Séguin (Montreal, Canada) conducts.
Soprano Diana Damrau (Günzberg, Germany) and tenor Juan Diego Flórez (Lima, Peru) star as Violetta and Alfredo. Baritone Quinn Kelsey (Honolulu, Hawaii) is Alfredo’s father Germont.
Spring Cast
Nicola Luisotti conducts.
Soprano Anita Hartig (Bistrita, Romania) and tenor Stephen Costello (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) star as Violetta and Alfredo. Artur Rucinski (Warsaw, Poland) opens the first two performances of Germont until the legendary Plácido Domingo (Madrid, Spain / Mexico City, Mexico) takes over the role.
Tickets from $20
