La Traviata (1983)
Opera in Two Acts
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Plave
English translation by Joseph Machlis
Used by arrangement with Associated Music Publishers, Inc., U.S. agent for G. Ricardi and Co., Milan
First performed in Venice, March 6, 1853
Dates of Performance
May 28, June 1, 3, 9, 14, 18, 25
1983 Season
La Traviata   Don Giovanni
Margot la Rouge   Les mamelles de Tirésias
Photo Gallery
Cast
Kerry McCarthy
Violetta Valery
Kallen Esperian
Flora Bervoix
Paul Kilmer
Marquis d’Obigny
Andrew Wentzel
Baron Douphol
Laurence Albert
Doctor Grenvil
John La Pierre
Gastone
Tonio Di Paolo
Alfredo Germont
Brenda Everett
Annina
Terry Stone
Giuseppe
John Brandstetter
Giorgio Germont
Jack Davidson
Messenger
Maria Benitez
Spanish Dancer
Manolo de Cordoba
Spanish Dancer
Creative Team
Henry Lewis
Conductor
Colin Graham
Stage Director
Maria Benitez
Choreographer
John Conklin
Scenic Designer
John Conklin
Costume Designer
Peter Kaczorowski
Lighting Designer
Synopsis
ACT I
Violetta’s house in Paris: March, winter
ACT II
Scene 1: A country house near Paris: some months later, autumn Scene 2: Flora’s house in Paris: the same night
ACT Ill
Violetta’s bedroom: a few months later, summer
Violetta, a young and attractive courtesan, falls genuinely in love wit h Alf redo, a young man from Provence. She gives up her gay life and friends to live with him outside Paris. They are not married, but they are extremely happy together. His father has an interview with Violetta in which he asks her to break off her affair with Alfredo because it is jeopardizing the marriage of Alfredo’s sister to a suitable young man in Provence. During the interview the father becomes convinced that Violetta genuinely loves Alfredo but points out that with her reputation she cannot marry him and will spoil not only his life but his sister’s. Violetta agrees to sacrifice herself and returns to a life of empty gaiety, telling Alfredo she no longer loves him. The final act shows Violetta alone, dying of consumption, and waiting for Alfredo, whose father has only just told him of her sacrifice, to come to her. When he arrives, she begins to feel they can start their life together again, but the excitement has exhausted her and she dies in his arms.
The original production of La Traviata was made possible by a deeply appreciated gift from Mrs. Homer V. Howes.
The rehearsal costs for the soloists and orchestra for La Traviata have been funded by generous gifts from Mark Twain Bancshares. Inc., Judith Aronson and Dr. Gene Spector.
Additional costs of this production have been underwritten by generous gifts from Mr. Burton Bernard, Mr. and Mrs. William Firestone, Dr. and Mrs. Keith Fischer, Dr. and Mrs. William H. Friedman, Mr. and Mrs. Tom L. Gossage, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Greenberg, Dr. and Mrs. Godofredo Herzog, Dr. and Mrs. Oscar Hantz, Mr. Fielding Holmes, Dr. Robert Kleiger, Dr. and Mrs. Laurence Levine, Mr. Alan Lieberman, Dr. and Mrs. Paul C. Paris, and Dr. Wayne A. Stillings.
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