La traviata (2000)
Opera in Three Acts
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after the novel and play by Alexandre Dumas fils
English translation by Edmund Tracey
Mr. Tracey’s translation is used by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., agent in the U.S. for Josef Weinberger Ltd., London, publisher and copyright owner.
First performed in Venice, 6 March 1853.
Dates of Performance
May 25, 27, 31; June 2, 6, 9, 14, 18, 21 (matinée), 24 (matinée)
2000 Season
Treemonisha   La Traviata
Radamisto   The Tale of Genji
Photo Gallery
Cast
Mary Dunleavy
Violetta Valéry
Edyta Kulczak*
Flora Bervoix
Matthew Burns*
Marquis d’Obigny
Brian Dore*
Baron Douphol
Samuel Hepler
Doctor Grenville
Daniel Brenna
Gaston
John Bellemer*
Alfredo Germont
Carolyn Betty*
Annina
Simon O’Neill*
Joseph
Gary Lehman
Giorgio Germont
Keith Dean*
Messenger
Morris DeRhon Robinson
Flora’s servant
*Company Debut
Creative Team
Stephen Lord
Conductor
Joshua Major*
Stage Director
Vincent Mountain*
Set Designer
Audrey Fisher*
Costume Designer
Christopher Akerlind
Lighting Designer
Tom Watson
Wig & Makeup Designer
Cary John Franklin
Chorus Master
Kathryn LaBouff
English Diction Specialist
Eric Malson
Repetiteur
Cristobel K. Langan
Stage Manager
Patrick Siler
Assistant Stage Manager
Terry Lee
Intern Assistant Stage Manager
*Company Debut
Synopsis
Violetta, a beautiful young courtesan, falls genuinely in love with Alfredo, a young man from Provence, and gives up her friends and her fashionable life to live with him outside Paris.
Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father, begs her to break off their affair; the scandal is jeopardizing the marriage of Alfredo’s sister to a suitable young man in Provence. During their interview, Germont becomes convinced that Violetta genuinely loves Alfredo, but he points out that with her reputation, she can never marry him and will ruin not only his life but also his sister’s.
Violetta agrees to sacrifice herself and returns to her friends in Paris, telling Alfredo that she no longer loves him.
In the final act, Violetta is alone, dying of consumption and waiting for Alfredo to come to her — his father has only just told him of her sacrifice. When he arrives, she begins to believe that they can start life together again, but the excitement has exhausted her, and she dies in his arms.

This production is made possible by a Generous gift from Emerson Electric Co., whose continuing generosity is greatly appreciated.
Opera Theatre pays tribute to Alice and Leigh Gerdine whose support and commitment have helped guide
the company’s growth and success.
The services of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra are underwritten in part by Mrs. & Mrs. William B. Firestone, Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Lux, Mrs. & Mrs. David W. Mesker, Mrs. & Mrs. Robert L. Scharff, Jr., and Or. G. W. Spector & Barbara Messing.
The preview presentation of La traviata for St. Louis area students and seniors was made possible by Southwestern Bell Foundation.

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