“Even without knowing it, I loved you. With that love which is the very breath of the universe itself – mysterious and noble, both cross and ecstasy of the heart…”  ACTE 1, ALFREDO

FLAMBOYANT
HEART-WRENCHING
ESSENTIAL

Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave

The beautiful young Violetta Valéry is one of the most sought-after courtesans in Paris, living a life of luxury and pleasure. When Alfredo Germont professes his absolute love for her, she discovers the simple joys of life, far from the Parisian frivolities she has abandoned. Will their forbidden love survive the harsh judgement of Alfredo’s father and the phthisis from which the young women suffers?

A VOCAL MASTERPIECE

A study in modern manners, La Traviata is based on a play by Alexandre Dumas fils and explores the poignant drama of a courtesan suffering from tuberculosis whose honour is violated and who is denied love. Violetta, along with Gilda (Rigoletto) and Azucena (Il Trovatore), is a typical Verdi heroine, illustrating the female condition in a society where patriarchal authority reigns supreme. The opera focuses on a character who feels the pain of the world, with its music underscoring the evolution and emotions.

The great Verdi made no secret of his intentions when, in 1853, he declared that he wanted “new, grand, lovely, varied and ardent subjects. Bold to the core, with new forms but also appropriate for music. ». La Traviata – the ‘fallen woman’ – is a pivotal work in Verdi’s career. Despite a stormy première in Venice in 1853 with the audience jeering at times, it is one of the most popular works by the composer and in the history of opera. The singing and music are deeply melodramatic, making the role of Violetta one of the most demanding and spectacular in the entire operatic repertoire.

This colourful new production comes with a sumptuous staging by Thaddeus Strassberger (in Belgium for the first time) and flamboyant costumes by Giuseppe Palella… A treat for the ears and eyes!

• LAST PERFORMED AT THE ORW
  NOVEMBER 2020
• NEW PRODUCTION
  OPÉRA ROYAL DE WALLONIE-LIÈGE
• WITH THE SUPPORT OF TAX SHELTER OF THE FEDERAL BELGIAN GOVERNEMENT AND BEL ARTS FUND