TUESDAY July 11, 7:30 p.m. (finishing at approx 10:20 p.m.)
LA TRAVIATA
An opera in three acts
by Giuseppi Verdi (1813-1901)
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
First performed in the La Fenice opera house, Venice on 6 March 1853
Cast
Production
A 2011 production from the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence
Direction by Jean-François Sivadier
Design by Alexandre de Dardel
Costume design by Virginie Gervaise
Lighting design by Philippe Jourdain
London Symphony Orchestra
and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
conducted by Louis Langrée
Synopsis
ACT ONE - A dining room at Violetta’s Parisian house
The courtesan Violetta Valéry greets party guests, including Flora Bervoix and Gastone, who introduces a new admirer, Alfredo Germont. This young man, having adored Violetta from afar, joins her in a drinking song (Brindisi: "Libiamo"). Violetta suffers a fainting spell and goes to her parlor to recover. Alfredo comes in, and since they are alone, confesses his love ("Un dì felice"). At first Violetta protests that love means nothing to her. Something about the young man's sincerity touches her, however, and she promises to meet him the next day. After the guests have gone, Violetta wonders if Alfredo could actually be the man she could love ("Ah, fors'è lui"). But she decides she wants freedom ("Sempre libera"), though Alfredo's voice, heard outside, argues in favor of romance.
ACT TWO - A country house near Paris, some months later
Alfredo and Violetta are now iving together. He praises their contentment ("De' miei bollenti spiriti"). But when the maid, Annina, reveals Violetta has pawned her jewels to keep the house, Alfredo leaves for the city to settle matters at his own cost. Violetta has no intention of going back to her old life, but trouble intrudes with the appearance of Alfredo's father. Though impressed by Violetta's ladylike manners, he demands she renounce his son: the scandal of Alfredo's affair threatens his daughter's engagement ("Pura siccome un angelo"). Violetta says she cannot, but Germont eventually convinces her ("Dite alla giovine"). Alone, the desolate woman begins a farewell note to Alfredo. He enters suddenly, surprising her, and she can barely control herself as she reminds him of how deeply she loves him ("Amami, Alfredo") before rushing out. A servant hands Alfredo her farewell note as Germont reminders to his son of family life in Provence ("Di Provenza"). But Alfredo, seeing Flora's invitation, suspects Violetta has thrown him over for another lover and determines to confront her at the party.
At her soirée that evening, Flora learns that Violetta and Alfredo have parted. Soon Alfredo strides in, bitterly commenting about love and gambling recklessly at cards. Violetta arrives with Baron Douphol, who challenges Alfredo to a game and loses a small fortune to him. Everyone goes in to supper, but Violetta has asked Alfredo to see her. Fearful of the Baron's anger, she wants Alfredo to leave, but he misunderstands her apprehension and demands that she admit she loves Douphol. Crushed, she pretends she does. Now Alfredo calls in the others, denounces his former love and hurls his winnings at her feet ("Questa donna conoscete?"). Germont enters in time to see this and denounces his son's behaviour.
ACT THREE - Violetta's bedroom six months later
Dr. Grenvil tells Annina her mistress has not long to live: tuberculosis has claimed her. Alone, Violetta rereads a letter from Germont saying the Baron was only wounded in his duel with Alfredo, who knows all and is on his way to beg her pardon. But Violetta senses it is too late ("Addio del passato"). Paris is celebrating Mardi Gras and, after revellers pass outside, Annina rushes in to announce Alfredo. The lovers ecstatically plan to leave Paris forever ("Parigi, o cara"). Germont enters with the doctor before Violetta is seized with a last resurgence of strength. Feeling life return, she staggers and falls dead at her lover's feet.
Click here to watch director Jean-François Sivadier working in rehearsal with Natalie Dessay
and Charles Castronovo on his staging of
Violetta's Act 1 aria 'Sempre libera'
The Original Violetta
Violetta is based on an historical woman, Marie Duplessis (below), the queen of the demi-monde – the half world of rich men and their mistresses. Marie came from peasant stock, but her beauty and good sense ensured her a glittering career as a courtesan. She made her living by entertaining and offering her services as an escort and mistress. It was like being a high class prostitute, with none of the sordid trappings of prostitution.
Marie had her own apartment, a carriage and horses, a box at the opera, and one lover at a time. That lover had to be extremely rich; Marie got through 100,000 francs a year.
In 1845 a young French novelist, Alexandre Dumas, met Marie Duplessis and had a brief affair with her. But Dumas was too poor to keep her and after 11 months had to make way for a richer lover. Two years later Marie died of tuberculosis; she was only 23.
Dumas immortalised her in two works, his novel La Dame aux Caméllias, and a long-running play of the same name. He tried to describe her: “She was tall, dark-haired with a pink and white complexion and long slanting eyes, like those of a Japanese woman. Her lips were the colour of cherries and she had the most beautiful teeth in the world.” Everybody noticed her teeth. Marie used to laugh and say that it was lying that kept them so white.
Marie knew she was dying but, as a courtesan can’t afford to take sick leave, it appears she decided to make the best of her youth and enjoy herself as best she could. Unfortunately that involved dancing, parties and champagne – a sure fire way for a TB sufferer to kill herself.
- www.glyndebourne.com : Opera Guides
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, August 15, 7.30 pm
Death in Venice - (Britten)
Benjamin Britten's final opera, based on a novella by Thomas Mann, and regarded by many as Britten's finest work.
A 2014 production from English National Opera, with John Graham-Hall as the tortured novelist Gustav von Aschenbach, and conducted by Edward Gardner.