Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes


Schedule for Giuseppe Verdi "La Traviata" (Opera in 2 acts) 2010

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Set Designer: Vyacheslav Okunev
Production: Stanislav Gaudassinsky
Principal Chorus Master: Alexandr Chernov
Musical Director: Andrei Anikhanov

Orchestra: Mikhailovsky Symphony Orchestra

Premiere of this production: 24 February 1995

Performed in Italian

Libretto by F.Piave after A.Dumas’ drama

ACT 1

Scene 1
A lovely party takes place in the house of Violetta Valery, a courtesan: her admirers celebrate her convalescence. Among the guests is Alfredo Germont. He falls in love with Violetta at first sight. At everybody’s request he sings a drinking-song-a hymn to love and joy of life. When they are alone he tries to talk her into changing her way of life. Violetta makes jokes in reply to his passionate declaration of love. She gives him a flower and makes an appointment with him. Guests depart. When she is left alone Violetta recollects with excitement Alfredo’s declaration of love. For the first time in her life she finds genuine love.

Scene 2
Violetta and Alfredo have left Paris. They live in solitude in the country house.
Alfredo’s day-dreaming is interrupted by his housemaid’s Annina’s confession: Violetta secretly sells off her possessions. Astounded by Violetta’s selflessness Alfredo sets off to Paris to settle his money problems.
Violetta absently looks through the letters she received. In one of them she finds an invitation from her friend Flora to a masquerade. Violetta puts it aside with indifference. Alfredo’s father Giorgio Germont appears. He blames her for mining his son’s life and the reputation of the family. Violetta is in despair: her love for Alfredo is the only joy in her life.
Yielding to his persuasion she decides to sacrifice her happines. She writes a farewell letter to her beloved.
On his return home Alfredo notices Violetta’s uneasiness and sees tears in her eyes.
After her departure he receives the letter which plunges him into despair. Germont tries to talk his son into returning home but the latter does not listen to him. Alfredo finds Flora’s letter with the invitation. Now he no longer doubts that Violetta has left him forever. Gripped with jealousy he hurries to Paris.

ACT 2

Scene3
Masquerade at Flora’s. Alfredo is at a card table. Violetta accompanied by baron Douphol appears.
Flora welcomes her heartily but the bustle of the masquerade is alien to Violetta: she is tormented by her break off with Alfredo. Alfredo is spoiling for a fight with baron.
Violetta tries to prevent the duel. But Alfredo convinced of her faithless-ness flings an insult at her. He hurls money in her face as pay for love.

Scene 4
Broken down by suffering and disease, left by her friends Violetta is dying away.
Dr. Grenvil tries to encourage her but Violetta knows that she is nearing her life.
She rereads the letter from Germont in which he tells about Alfredo’s arrival whom Germont confessed about Violetta’s self-sacrifice. Sounds of carnival can be heard from the outside. Annina announces Alfredo’s arrival. The lovers are boundlessly happy: they begin making a new life. But Violetta’s strength is failing her.

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