Performance Cities 

Birmingham Hippodrome              4 Mar-8 Mar

Milton Keynes Theatre            11 Mar-15 Mar

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton   18 Mar-22 Mar

Theatre Royal, Plymouth       25 Mar-29 Mar

Venue Cymru, Llandudno      1 Apr-5 Apr

The Bristol Hippodrome      12 Apr  – See more at: http://www.wno.org.uk/traviata#sthash.IIUlV8uL.dpuf

Free New to opera talks Tuesday 11 February – Saturday 5 April New to opera? La traviata is the perfect place to start. Join us for a special introduction to opera before selected performances of La traviata.

The Whole Story Thursday 6 February – Wednesday 19 March The Whole Story is the perfect introduction to the Fallen Women season. Before the performances begin, our team of experts will guide you through the music, stories and background to each opera.

Literary inspirations Friday 28 February A special hour long talk looking at how the season’s operas draw on classics by Dumas and and Prévost.

David Pountney in Conversation Friday 7 February David Pountney and a key figure from the arts explore the Fallen Women theme.

Myrto Papatanasiu (Violetta)— Photo Credit: Bill Cooper

SYNOPSIS

Act One | Paris Violetta, a courtesan under the protection of Baron Douphol, is giving a party. She is introduced to Alfredo Germont, a young man of solid Provençal family who confesses to being already in love with her. As she leads her guests off 
to dance, Violetta is overcome by a coughing fit. Her frivolous friends are unconcerned, Alfredo is not. He again protests his love but she discourages him. Left alone when her guests finally depart, Violetta finds herself unexpectedly touched by the young man’s passionate declaration. Despite this she convinces herself that her only choice is to continue to pursue a life of hectic pleasure.

Interval

Act Two
 Scene One |
 A country house near Paris, three months later Violetta has given in to her feelings and she and Alfredo are now living together in the country, where her health has improved. When he accidentally discovers from her maid, Annina, that Violetta has been selling her possessions in order to pay their bills, Alfredo is overcome with shame and leaves for Paris in order to raise the necessary money. Violetta is surprised by an unheralded visit from Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father. Having assumed that his son has been squandering his inheritance on Violetta, he is shocked to discover that she has been paying for everything. He begs her to break away from his son as their relationship is threatening 
his daughter’s prospects of marriage into a respectable family. Germont persuades Violetta that she must make the sacrifice in order to protect the future happiness of both his son and daughter. A distraught Violetta finally agrees and sends word to Baron Douphol, signalling her return to Paris. When Germont leaves she writes a farewell note to Alfredo, to be given to him when she has gone. When Alfredo reads the note he rejects his father’s attempts to console him and rushes back to Paris, determined to avenge himself for what he believes to be Violetta’s betrayal.

Scene Two | Flora’s house in Paris, the same night Another party is under way. Alfredo arrives alone, expecting to find Violetta back in her old circle. His fears are realized when she appears, on the arm of Baron Douphol. The two men play at cards and Alfredo wins a large amount of money. Desperate to prevent them fighting, Violetta tries to persuade Alfredo to leave the party. He refuses and forces her to say that she loves the Baron. In a fury, Alfredo calls all the guests to witness the repayment of his debts and flings his winnings in Violetta’s face. She collapses. Germont witnesses his son’s outburst and reproaches him for his cruel behaviour.

Interval

Act Three | Violetta’s sickroom, a few months later Violetta is dying, friendless and in penury, with only Annina for company. She reads a letter from Germont telling her that he has told Alfredo the truth and that they are both coming to beg her forgiveness. The two lovers are reunited and plan feverishly for a happier future, but it is too late. Violetta dies in Alfredo’s arms.

Dario Solari (Giorgio Germont)-Myrto Papatanasiu (Violetta)— Photo Credit:Bill Cooper

Creative team includes:

Conductor Simon Phillippo

Director David McVicar

Revival Director Sarah Crisp

Designer Tanya McCallin

Lighting Designer Jennifer Tipton

Choreographer Andrew George

Lighting realised on tour by Benjamin Naylor

Revival Choreographer Colm Seery

Dance Captain Joanna Jeffries

Chorus Master Stephen Harris

Musical Preparation Russell Moreton

Staff Director Katherine Wilde

Language Coach Matteo Dalle Fratte

Stage Manager Suzie Erith

Production Manager Robert Pagett

Cast includes:

Violetta Valéry Linda Richardson

Flora Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (ex. 11 March), Amanda Baldwin (11 March)

Marquis d’Obigny Philip Lloyd-Evans

Baron Douphol Jack O’Kelly

Gaston Howard Kirk

Alfredo Germont Peter Sonn (until 1 March), Ji-Min Park (4, 8, 11 March), Leonardo Capalbo (from 15 March)

Annina Sian Meinir

Giuseppe Michael Clifton-Thompson

Giorgio Germont Alan Opie

Doctor Grenvil Martin Lloyd

Messenger George Newton-Fitzgerald

Flora’s Servant Laurence Cole

Dancers Esther Fuge, Joanna Jeffries, Sophia McGregor, Jenna Sloan, Gordon Brandie, Nicholas Keegan, Ashley James Orwin

Cast—Phot Credit:Bill Cooper

All performances start at 7.15pm (except 16 February at 4pm)

Running time approximately 2 hours 40 minutes including two intervals

Sung in Italian with surtitles in English (and Welsh in Cardiff and Llandudno)

Co-production with Scottish Opera and Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona

Under 30s can get tickets for under £5 please talk to your local box office for further details