Opera in two acts
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after the play La Dame aux Camelias by Alexandre Dumas fils
Performed in Italian
Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes (with one intermission)
This production prefers black to bright colours. Novaya Opera’s La traviata is not a romantic love story, but a tragedy of love and death. The performance begins and ends with Violetta’s death. In the interim, Violetta, like a wounded bird, thrashes and rushes about, trying to break out from the closed circuit of her own destiny. The production reveals the gap between the current and the last century. The theatre not only feels sympathy for Violetta and Alfredo, but mourns over them.
Synopsis
The courtesan Violetta Valeri is giving a party. Alfredo Germont is among her
guests. He tells her that he loves her. For the first time a deep feeling comes
in Violetta’s heart. They are living together for three months. Without
Alfredo’s knowledge Violetta has been selling her property to avoid poverty.
Discovering this by accident, Alfredo immediately goes away: he wants to wash
off his disgrace. Meanwhile Alfredo’s father, Georgio Germont, comes to Violetta
to persuade her to renounce his son. This liaison stands in the way of the
forthcoming wedding of his daughter. Violetta is forced to give in, and after a
brief encounter with returned Alfredo she departs, leaving a
note.
Alfredo gives way to despair. Giorgio Germont tries to console his
son, but the latter does not hear his father’s admonition. Alfredo, knowing that
Violetta has been invited to Flora Bervoix’s party, hurries up there to revenge
himself.
Flora’s party. The guests discuss a sensational news: Violetta
has separated from Alfredo. Alfredo comes in. In full swing of festivities he
sees Violetta together with the Baron Douphol. Alfredo beats his enemy and rival
at cards. Wishing to save her beloved from a duel Violetta asks him to go away.
Alfredo insists on Violetta’s coming with him, but she refuses. Alfredo flies
into a rage. He insults Violetta in front of the other guests: as if paying his
debt, he throws down to her his winnings at cards. Giorgio Germont reproaches
his son for his doing.
Violetta is mortally ill. Even a sudden arrival of
Alfredo and Giorgio Germont cannot bring her back to life. Violetta dies in the
presence of inconsolable friends.