LA TRAVIATA

OPERA IN THE SWAY

OF EMOTIONS


Verdi’s gripping tragedy tells of the courtesan Violetta who finds true love with the young Alfredo Germont and gives up her life of easy virtue to follow her heart. The most delicate love is remorselessly forced into self-sacrifice and with jealousy as its unwelcome guest is driven into the sway of conflicting emotions.

Give yourself up to Verdi’s great music with its enchanting baritones and seductive sopranos. Feel its raging love, pain and desire as this classic work portrays the foolishness of infatuation, the madness of jealousy and the captivating innocence of love.

Before the performance an introduction will be given by Guido Paevatalu.

SINGERS:
Violetta: Anne Margrethe Dahl
Flora: Elisabeth Halling
Alfredo: Niels Jørgen Riis
Annina: Elisabeth Halling
Giorgio Germont: Guido Paevatalu
Baron Douphol: Hans Lawaetz
Dr. Grenvil: Anders Jakobsson

CHOIR:
Hässleholms Kyrkas Vocal Ensemble
Choir master: Birgitta Johansson

DIRECTOR:
Guido Paevatalu.

ORCHESTRA:
Piano / Musical Director: Torben Petersen
Violin: Mikkel Futtrup
Cello: Juliane von Hahn

TIME AND PLACE:
Sunday 26th July at 2 pm at Nytorv.

Free entrance


Vis stort kort

DURATION:
2 ½ hours with interval

Copenhagen Opera Festival is supported by Oticon Fonden, LO’s Kultur- og Projektpulje and Dansk Kapelmesterforening. Thanks to Pianokompagniet for the use of the Steingraeber grand piano.



SYNOPSIS


ACT 1
In Paris the beautiful and rich courtesan Violetta lives a champagne life of superficial parties and wealthy lovers. She is kept in luxury by Baron Douphol, but is introduced at a party to the young Alfredo Germont, who in all secrecy has long been in love with her. After a moving declaration of his love, which Violetta rejects, she begins to doubt whether she should not follow her heart and Alfredo. But instead she chooses the empty bubbles of champagne and her flamboyant but lonely acquaintances.

ACT 2
Emotions and love have won the day. Violetta and Alfredo are now together, living outside Paris on Violetta’s earnings. But when Alfredo discovers that she has sunk herself deep in debt in order to live with him, he returns to Paris to find some money. While he is away, his father Giorgio Germont arrives and tells Violetta that Alfredo’s sister cannot marry while he is living with a courtesan. Violetta resolves to sacrifice the love of her life for the young sister’s happiness, so she writes a farewell letter to Alfredo telling him that the affair is over and that she is returning to her former life. On his return home Alfredo is furious with jealousy and sorrow and, thirsting for revenge, he determines to confront Violetta at a party in Paris.

ACT 3
Alfredo is already at the party when Violetta arrives with Baron Douphol. In pent-up fury Alfredo insults them, and Baron Douphol challenges him to a game of cards, which Alfredo wins. Claiming that she loves the baron, Violetta tries to persuade Alfredo to leave and avoid a duel. Alfredo throws his winnings and her feet, humiliates her and tells her that her keep has now been paid. His father arrives and takes exception to his son’s shoddy behaviour, whereupon Alfredo realizes that he has soiled the most beautiful relationship of his life.

ACT 4
Violetta is close to death. Ruined and abandoned by all except her faithful maid, Annina, she lies in her room, reading a letter from Alfredo’s father. It turns out that after wounding the baron in a duel, Alfredo has fled abroad, but that informed of her sacrifice for him, Alfredo is returning to her side to ask for forgiveness. But time is running out …will her belovéd arrive in time?