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Scene from: La Traviata

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Conductor: Carlo Rizzi

Venice's famous opera house - the Gran Teatro, La Fenice - was one of the most fabled places in all opera. Inaugurated in 1792, and rebuilt after a fire in 1836, it has been the scene of many famous first nights for Rossini, Bellini and Verdi, amongst others. NVC ARTS is proud to present a production of one of the best-loved operas in the repertoire - Verdi's La Traviata, which had its world premiere at La Fenice in 1853.
The theatre was not only one of the most famous in the history of opera, it was also one of the most beautiful. With its rococo-style auditorium, and unique canal entrance through a rusticated arcade of five arches, it came to symbolise all that was romantic in Venice. It was tragically destroyed by fire in 1996.
Verdi and his librettist, Piave, based La Traviata on the popular play by Dumas fils, 'La Dame aux camélias'. This La Fenice production is by Pier Luigi Pizzi who is also the designer. The three leading roles are sung by a formidable trio of singer-actors: the Slovak soprano, Edita Gruberova as Violetta; the Italian baritone, Giorgio Zancanaro as Germont père; and the American tenor, Neil Shicoff as Alfredo.
La Traviata is set in Paris and its vicinity in the year 1850. Alfredo Germont, a gentleman from a wealthy family, falls in love with the beautiful courtesan, Violetta Valéry, known as the Lady of the Camelias. She is aware that she is dying from consumption. In Alfredo, Violetta has found for the first time in her life a man she can truly love. She leaves her demi-monde life and goes to live with him in the country. There she is visited by Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont. She is apprehensive about the meeting, and she is right to be. He does not ask her to give up Alfredo. Instead, he tells her how Alfredo's career is threatened by his liaison with her - and how his daughter's engagement is threatened by the scandal of Alfredo's life.
Much affected, Violetta agrees to make the sacrifice and accepts an invitation to a party given by Flora Bervoix, a friend associated with her former life. Alfredo, receiving a note from Violetta telling him of her intention to return to her former protector, Baron Douphol, finds Violetta's invitation to the party and assumes correctly that this is where she has gone. At the party Alfredo publicly insults Violetta and is challenged to a duel by the Baron. He is also disowned by his father. He eventually learns the truth about Violetta's sacrifice and seeks her out, only to find her dying. Recorded in December 1992.

Cast: Violetta Valéry - Edita Gruberova, Flora Bervoix - Mariana Pentcheva, Annina - Antonella Trevisan, Alfredo Germont - Neil Shicoff, Giorgio Germont - Giorgio Zancanaro, Gastone De Letorières - Max-René Cosotti, Baron Douphol - Orazio Mori, Marchese D'obigny - Paolo Maria Orecchia, Doctor Grenvil - Francesco Musinu, Giuseppe - Paolo Zizich.

Catalogue: 4509924092

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