La Traviata

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Renato Palumbo conducting Verdi’s melodrama, directed by Giorgio Gallione

Melodrama in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco Maria Piave from the novel La Dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas son

Produced by Fondazione Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova

 

 

Synopsis

Place: Paris and its vicinity

Time: Beginning of the 19th century

 

Act 1

The salon in Violetta's house

Violetta Valéry, a famed courtesan, throws a lavish party at her Paris salon to celebrate her recovery from an illness. Gastone, a viscount, has brought with him a friend, Alfredo Germont, a young bourgeois from a provincial family who has long adored Violetta from afar. While walking to the salon, Gastone tells Violetta that Alfredo loves her, and that while she was ill, he came to her house every day. Alfredo joins them, admitting the truth of Gastone's remarks.

Baron Douphol, Violetta's current lover, waits nearby to escort her to the salon. Once there, the Baron is asked to give a toast, but refuses, and the crowd turns to Alfredo, who agrees to sing a brindisi – a drinking song (Alfredo, Violetta, chorus: Libiamo ne' lieti calici – "Let's drink from the joyful cups").

From the next room, the sound of the orchestra is heard and the guests move there to dance. After a series of severe coughs and almost fainting, Violetta begins to feel dizzy and asks her guests to go ahead and to leave her to rest until she recovers. While the guests dance in the next room, Violetta looks at her pale face in her mirror. Alfredo enters and expresses his concern for her fragile health, later declaring his love for her (Alfredo, Violetta: Un dì, felice, eterea – "One day, happy and ethereal"). At first, she rejects him because his love means nothing to her, but there is something about Alfredo that touches her heart. He is about to leave when she gives him a flower, telling him to return it when it has wilted, which will be the very next day.

After the guests leave, Violetta wonders if Alfredo could actually be the one in her life (Violetta: È strano! ... Ah, fors' è lui – "Ah, perhaps he is the one"). But she concludes that she needs freedom to live her life (Violetta, Alfredo: Sempre libera – "Always free"). From off stage, Alfredo's voice is heard singing about love as he walks down the street.

 

Act 2

Scene 1: Violetta's country house outside Paris

Three months later, Alfredo and Violetta are living together in a peaceful country house outside Paris. Violetta has fallen in love with Alfredo and she has completely abandoned her former life. Alfredo sings of their happy life together (Alfredo: De' miei bollenti spiriti / Il giovanile ardore – "The youthful ardor of my ebullient spirits"). Annina, the maid, arrives from Paris, and, when questioned by Alfredo, tells him that she went there to sell the horses, carriages and everything owned by Violetta to support their country lifestyle.

Alfredo is shocked to learn this and leaves for Paris immediately to settle matters himself. Violetta returns home and receives an invitation from her friend, Flora, to a party in Paris that evening. Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont, is announced and demands that she break off her relationship with his son for the sake of his family, since he reveals that Violetta's relationship with Alfredo has threatened his daughter's engagement (Giorgio: Pura siccome un angelo, iddio mi diè una figlia – "Pure as an angel, God gave me a daughter") because of Violetta's reputation. Meanwhile, he reluctantly becomes impressed by Violetta's nobility, something which he did not expect from a courtesan. She responds that she cannot end the relationship because she loves Alfredo so much, but Giorgio pleads with her for the sake of his family. With growing remorse, she finally agrees (Violetta, Giorgio: Dite alla giovine, sì bella e pura,– "Tell the young girl, so beautiful and pure,") and says goodbye to Giorgio. In a gesture of gratitude for her kindness and sacrifice, Giorgio kisses her forehead before leaving her weeping alone.

Violetta gives a note to Annina to send to Flora accepting the party invitation and, as she is writing a farewell letter to Alfredo, he enters. She can barely control her sadness and tears; she tells him repeatedly of her unconditional love (Violetta: Amami, Alfredo, amami quant'io t'amo – "Love me, Alfredo, love me as I love you"). Before rushing out and setting off for Paris, she hands the farewell letter to her servant to give to Alfredo.

Soon, the servant brings the letter to Alfredo and, as soon as he has read it, Giorgio returns and attempts to comfort his son, reminding him of his family in Provence (Giorgio: Di Provenza il mar, il suol chi dal cor ti cancellò? – "Who erased the sea, the land of Provence from your heart?"). Alfredo suspects that the Baron is behind his separation from Violetta, and the party invitation, which he finds on the desk, strengthens his suspicions. He decides to confront Violetta at the party. Giorgio tries to stop Alfredo, but he rushes out.

Scene 2: Party at Flora's house

At the party, the Marquis tells Flora that Violetta and Alfredo have separated, much to the amazement of everyone who had previously seen the happy couple. She calls for the entertainers to perform for the guests (Chorus: Noi siamo zingarelle venute da lontano – "We are gypsy girls who have come from afar"; Di Madride noi siam mattadori – "We are matadors from Madrid"). Gastone and his friends join the matadors and sing (Gastone, chorus, dancers: È Piquillo un bel gagliardo Biscaglino mattador – "Piquillo is a bold and handsome matador from Biscay").

Violetta arrives with Baron Douphol. They see Alfredo at the gambling table. When he sees them, Alfredo loudly proclaims that he will take Violetta home with him. Feeling annoyed, the Baron goes to the gambling table and joins him in a game. As they bet, Alfredo wins some large sums until Flora announces that supper is ready. Alfredo leaves with handfuls of money.

As everyone is leaving the room, Violetta has asked Alfredo to see her. Fearing that the Baron's anger will lead him to challenge Alfredo to a duel, she gently asks Alfredo to leave. Alfredo misunderstands her apprehension and demands that she admit that she loves the Baron. In grief, she makes that admission and, furiously, Alfredo calls the guests to witness what he has to say (Questa donna conoscete? – "You know this woman?"). He humiliates and denounces Violetta in front of the guests and then throws his winnings at her feet in payment for her services. She faints onto the floor. The guests reprimand Alfredo: Di donne ignobile insultatore, di qua allontanati, ne desti orror! ("Ignoble insulter of women, go away from here, you fill us with horror!").

In search of his son, Giorgio enters the hall and, knowing the real significance of the scene, denounces his son's behavior (Giorgio, Alfredo, Violetta, chorus: Di sprezzo degno sè stesso rende chi pur nell'ira la donna offende. – "A man, who even in anger, offends a woman renders himself deserving of contempt.").

Flora and the ladies attempt to persuade Violetta to leave the dining room, but Violetta turns to Alfredo: Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core non-puoi comprendere tutto l'amore... – "Alfredo, Alfredo, you can't understand all the love in this heart...".

 

Act 3

Violetta's bedroom

Dr. Grenvil tells Annina that Violetta will not live long since her tuberculosis has worsened. Alone in her room, Violetta reads a letter from Alfredo's father telling her that the Baron was only wounded in his duel with Alfredo. He has informed Alfredo of the sacrifice she has made for him and his sister; and he is sending his son to see her as quickly as possible to ask for her forgiveness. But Violetta senses it is too late (Violetta: Addio, del passato bei sogni ridenti – "Farewell, lovely, happy dreams of the past").

Annina rushes into the room to tell Violetta of Alfredo's arrival. The lovers are reunited and Alfredo suggests that they leave Paris (Alfredo, Violetta: Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo – "We will leave Paris, O beloved").

But it is too late: she knows her death approaches (Alfredo, Violetta: Gran Dio!...morir sì giovane – "Great God!...to die so young"). Alfredo's father enters with the doctor, regretting what he has done. After singing a duet with Alfredo, Violetta suddenly revives, exclaiming that the pain and discomfort have left her. A moment later, she dies in Alfredo's arms.

Program and cast

Characters and interpreters:

Violetta Valery:
Olga Peretyatko
Elena Schirru (14,16,18)

Flora Bervoix:
Carlotta Vichi

Annina:
Chiara Polese

Alfredo Germont :

Francesco Meli
Klodjan Kaçani (14,16,18)

Giorgio Germont:
Roberto Frontali
Leon Kim (14,16,18),

Gastone:
Roberto Covatta

Barone Douphol:
Claudio Ottino

Marquis d’Obigny:
Andrea Porta

Dr. Grenvil:
Francesco Milanese

Flora’s domestic:
Loris Purpura

Giuseppe:
Giuliano Petouchoff

Commissioners:
Filippo Balestra

Concertmaster and conductor:
Renato Palumbo

Director:
Giorgio Gallione

Scenes and costumes:
Guido Fiorato

Lighting:
Luciano Novelli

Orchestra, chorus and technicians of the Opera Carlo Felice Genoa
Choirmaster Claudio Marino Moretti

Carlo Felice Theater

  Built on the area of Carlo Felice, the new theater, built by Aldo Rossi, recovers an idea already present in Paul Chessa projects and Carlo Scarpa: the creation of a piazza covered with 400 square meters, where the theater it was the ideal link between Galleria Mazzini and Piazza De Ferrari. Distant instead from an architectural point of view are the same Galleria Mazzini and the theater. the square is an open foyer; the walls are covered with stone slabs, and are enriched with columns and metal beams. There are two requirements that the architects wanted to keep in mind in the implementation of the new Carlo Felice theater: first, the need to rebuild it exactly where it was and secondly the desire to equip the new facility with the latest technology. From the latter need arises the imposing fly tower about 63 meters high. In practice the old theater work of Barabino remain the columns, the portico, the Latin inscription and the terrace that overlooks Via XXV Aprile which is accessed by one of the foyer; the current structure is very compact and geometric, the fly tower is a very linear in height developed rectangular, adorned only by a cornice.The auditorium, the foyer and services for the public are contained in a smaller box, where they emphasize the porch and the porch. As for the construction of the new theater are the stone were used for the exterior, plaster and iron, for the interior marble and wood. It is durable material that suggests an image of eternity, security and survival of the building over time. From the covered square, descending a staircase, you enter a room with a capacity of about 200 seats. Equipped with a small stage and independent from the rest of the theater, the hall hosts conferences, lectures and musical events. The interior of the theater entrance wide staircase leads to the closet and still climbing, the first foyer which has an area of 660 square meters and is decorated with frescoes and tapestries. the lantern A characteristic feature of the new Carlo Felice is the lantern visible in the foyer overlooking the lobby; it's a kind a light cone that runs through the building in all its height and it runs through all the plans, bringing the light from the roof to the indoor square. The tower Absolutely unique is the scenario in which they operate the technical units; right in the scenic tower, which houses the machine to move the shows, come together in a delicate balance human labor and sophisticated gear.In fact, the theater has four stages, a main stage, a back stage behind the first two stages and less aligned with each other and managed by integrated electronic and computerized. These scenic handling facilities, computerized lighting, sophisticated booths director for filming and acoustics among the best in Italy are among the features that make the Carlo Felice a factory of emotions among the most important in Italy.

 

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