EVENINGS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
-   BAHRAIN   -
PROGRAMME FOR 11 JUNE 2003
LA  TRAVIATA
Opera in Three Acts by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Libretto:  Francesco Maria Piave, after Alexander Dumas fils's play La Dame aux Camélias.
First Performance:  6 March 1853, Venice

CAST  (in order of appearance)
Violetta Valéry, a courtesan                                                                -   Angela Gheorghiu
Flora Bervoix, her friend                                                                         -   Leah-Marian Jones
Baron Douphol, suitor to Violetta                                                      -   Richard van Allan
Grenvil, a doctor                                                                                            -   Mark Beesley
Marquis d'Obigny                                                                                   -   Roderick Earle
Gastone de Letorières, a viscount                                                  -   Robin Leggate
Alfredo Germont, a young gentleman, in love with Violetta       -   Frank Lopardo
Annina, maid to Violetta                                                                                -   Gillian Knight
Giuseppe, servant at the country house                                             -   Neil Griffiths
Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father                                                     -   Leo Nucci
A Messenger                                                                                              -   Bryan Secombe

Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Conductor   -   Georg Solti

Recorded at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (December 1994)
Directed by Richard Eyre
Sung in Italian with English sub-titles
Synopsis

The story is set in Paris in the 1840s.

Act One
          In the house of the courtesan Violetta Valéry, a party is in progress.  Gastone introduces a young man, Alfredo Germont, who has long admired her.  During her recent illness Alfredo has enquired after her every day, which is more, as Violetta laughingly points out, than her current lover Baron Douphol has done.  A toast is called for, and since Douphol ill-humouredly refuses to lead it, Alfredo sings  -  for Violetta  -  of the pleasures of wine.
          As the guests move into the next room to dance, Violetta feels faint and is obliged to rest for a moment.  She finds herself alone with Alfredo, who tells her that her present way of life will kill her.  He declares his love, and although Violetta is moved by his devotion for her, she advises him to forget her, as she is incapable of real love.  Nevertheless she agrees to see him again.
          The guests leave, and alone, Violetta is surprised to realise how Alfredo's declaration affected her.  His love offers a joy she has never hoped for  -  to love and to be loved.  But dismissing such thoughts as madness, she resolves to abandon herself to her life of ceaseless pleasure.

Act Two  -  Scene One
          Violetta has rejected her previous life, and for three months has been living in a house outside Paris with Alfredo.  Alfredo reflects on the happiness they both feel, but is astounded to be told by Violetta's maid, Annina, that Violetta is selling off her possessions to maintain their household.  He immediately leaves to raise the necessary money.
          Violetta has been invited to a party by her old friend Flora, but has no wish to go.  She receives a visitor  -  not the lawyer she is expecting, but Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont  Germont accuses her of ruining his son, but relents when Violetta reveals that it is she who is financing their life together.  Yet although he acknowledges the nobility of her love for Alfredo, Germont asks her to make a sacrifice for his sake  -  her liaison with Alfredo is jeopardising the proposed marriage of Alfredo's sister, and he asks Violetta to relinquish Alfredo, not just for a while, but for ever.  Violetta is horrified  -  without Alfredo she will be alone in the world, and her life is already threatened by consumption.  But Germont pleads with her, and eventually she agrees, having decided upon the only way to force Alfredo to leave her.
          Germont goes into the garden to await his son's return.  Violetta quickly scribbles a note to Baron Douphol.  She is writing another when Alfredo comes in.  Distraught, she assures him of her love and leaves hurriedly for Paris.  Her last note is delivered to Alfredo, who learns that she is returning to her old life.  He falls despairingly into his father's arms, and although Germont attempts to comfort him, he too leaves for Paris, swearing revenge.

Act Two  -  Scene Two
          That evening, Flora is surprised to learn that Violetta and Alfredo have separated and that Violetta will be escorted to the party by Douphol.  Guests dressed as gypsies and matadors entertain the company.
          Alfredo enters, feigning indifference, and is soon winning at cards.  Violetta arrives with Douphol, who is angered by Alfredo's remarks about her.  The two men play cards and again Alfredo is winning when they are interrupted by the supper announcement.  Fearing for Alfredo's life Violetta calls him apart from the guests to warn him that Douphol is likely to provoke him to a duel.  Alfredo agrees to leave only if if she will come with him, but bound by her promise to Germont, Violetta refuses and allows Alfredo to believe that she loves Douphol.
          In fury Alfredo summons the other guests and before them all throws his winnings at Violetta's feet in repayment for the money she spent on him.  The guests are appalled by the insult and Germont, coming in at that moment, is outraged at his son's behaviour.  Alfredo is immediately struck with remorse, and Douphol challenges him to a duel.

Act Three
          Violetta now lies dying of consumption.  Dr Grenvil confirms to Annina that Violetta has only hours to live.  It is Carnival, and Violetta sends Annina out to distribute money to the poor.
          Left alone, she re-reads a letter from Germont.  Alfredo and Douphol have fought their duel, and Alfredo is now abroad, but has been told of Violetta's sacrifice.  Both father and son are on their way to see her.  Violetta fears that they will arrive too late.
          Annina hurries back to prepare Violetta for the news that Alfredo has returned.  He rushes in and begs Violetta to forgive him.  Forgetting for a minute Violetta's hopeless condition the two lovers ecstatically plan a new life together.  But Violetta is overcome by weakness and the frightened Alfredo sends for the doctor, who returns with Germont.  The old man asks Violetta to forgive him for the grief he has caused, but it is evident to them all that Violetta is dying.  As Alfredo begs her not to leave him she suddenly feels her strength returning, and crying out with joy, collapses and dies.
DVD Cover
Angela Gheorghiu
Frank Lopardo
Leo Nucci
Gheorghiu
Lopardo & Gheorghiu
Gheorghiu
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