
LA TRAVIATA
MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
COMPOSER
Giuseppe Verdi
LOCATION
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA

DATES
Saturday, August 23, 1:00 PM
Tuesday, August 26, 7:30 PM
Friday, August 29, 7:30 PM
DURATION
2 hours, 30 minutes (including one intermission)
LANGUAGE
Sung in Italian with projected English translations
Set amid the splendor of Parisian nightlife, Giuseppe Verdi’s timeless tale of love and sacrifice has become one of the most beloved operas of all time. Violetta lives a life of decadence and grandeur until she finds true love for the first time with Alfredo. They leave high society for a life in the countryside together, but when fate intervenes, Violetta must make an agonizing choice. Verdi’s exquisite melodies and rousing choruses are a perfect accompaniment for this doomed romance.
TICKETING INFO
Tickets from $20
Under 30? Contact the Mahaiwe box office directly to learn more about special discounts
On Saturday, August 23, there will be a free pre-performance talk with dramaturg Cori Ellison at 12:00 PM (11:45 AM doors) for all ticket holders. Gain insight into one of Verdi's greatest works before curtain at 1:00 PM.
Please note while Berkshire Opera Festival is the producer of La Traviata, all related sales and customer services are managed by the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center box office. The Mahaiwe is the ONLY official outlet to purchase tickets for La Traviata. Beware of fraudulent, third-party websites offering tickets at inflated prices.
CAST

Soprano Vanessa Becerra has been praised for her "bold and bright" singing by Opera News, and "charismatic and eloquent" presence by the San Francisco Chronicle.
VANESSA BECERRA
Violetta Valéry

Returning to BOF is tenor Joshua Blue, whom The Berkshire Eagle called "golden-voiced" and "dynamic" in our production of Don Giovanni.
JOSHUA BLUE
Alfredo Germont

Praised by Opera News for his "gorgeously warm tone and deep resonance," baritone Darren Drone is rapidly emerging as a standout talent in the opera world.
DARREN DRONE
Giorgio Germont

Returning to BOF, mezzo-soprano Erin Reppenhagen was in the 2024 workshop performance of Anthony Davis and Joan Ross Sorkin's The Reef.
ERIN REPPENHAGEN
Flora Bervoix

Tenor Maximillian Jansen is a versatile performer with a "warm, but penetrating voice" (The Times Union).
MAXIMILLIAN JANSEN
Gastone

A BOF mainstay, bass-baritone John Cheek made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1977 and has since appeared in more than 370 performances there.
JOHN CHEEK
Doctor Grenvil

Baritone Yazid Gray has been hailed as "a vocal chameleon" by Seen and Heard International with "a voice of fine quality and warmth" by onStage Pittsburgh.
YAZID GRAY
Baron Douphol

Bass-baritone Adam Partridge recently earned his master's degree in Opera Performance from Rice University.
ADAM PARTRIDGE
The Marquis of Obigny

Soprano Kalia Kellogg has been a member of the BOF Chorus since our first season.
KALIA KELLOGG
Annina
CREATIVE TEAM
SYNOPSIS
La Traviata has a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on La Dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas fils
The action takes place in Paris and its surroundings.
Act I
Violetta Valéry, one of the most famous escorts in Paris, is hosting a lavish party in her home, paid for by her wealthy patron Baron Douphol. Gastone arrives and presents Violetta with a new admirer, Alfredo Germont, saying that he was asking about Violetta’s health every day during her recent illness. The guests urge Alfredo to make a toast, and he accepts (Brindisi: Libiamo ne’ lieti calici). Music is heard coming from the next room, but as the revelers go there to dance, Violetta faints. She remains behind to recover. Alfredo joins her and confesses that he has loved her for over a year (Duet: Un dì, felice). At first, Violetta protests that love means nothing to her, but she is touched by the young man’s sincerity and gives him a camellia, telling him to return when the flower has faded. Alfredo is excited to realize this means he will return tomorrow, and he leaves, followed by the other guests (Chorus: Si ridesta in ciel l’aurora). Left alone, Violetta begins to wonder whether she could be capable of loving Alfredo, but finally rejects the possibility, preferring to keep her freedom (Ah, fors’è lui … Sempre libera).
Act II
Three months later, Violetta and Alfredo are living together in a house in the countryside. Alfredo sings of his contentment, but when the maid Annina tells him that Violetta has been selling her possessions to support their lifestyle, he rushes back to Paris to find money (De’ miei bollenti spiriti … O mio rimorso). Meanwhile, Violetta has received an invitation from Flora to a party that night. She decides not to attend, as she has no intention of returning to her old life. Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont, suddenly arrives, demanding that Violetta separate from his son. He soon learns that Violetta is a kind woman who is not after his family’s money, but explains that the scandal of their relationship threatens his daughter’s engagement (Duet: Pura siccome un angelo). Violetta refuses at first, but Germont’s pleading gradually wears down her resistance and she agrees, heartbroken. (Duet: Dite alla giovine). She asks Germont to promise that after her death, he will tell Alfredo the real reason she left him. Violetta decides to accept Flora’s invitation and writes a goodbye note to Alfredo saying she is moving back to Paris with Baron Douphol. Alfredo returns before she has completed the note and is puzzled by her behavior. She begs him to tell her that he loves her, and leaves. A messenger delivers her note to Alfredo, who is devasted by reading it. His father appears and tries to persuade him to return home to his family (Di Provenza il mar … No, non udrai rimproveri). But Alfredo refuses, and rushes back to Paris to confront Violetta.
Later that night, some guests at Flora’s party are discussing Violetta and Alfredo’s separation. They are interrupted by entertainment provided by guests dressed as fortune-tellers (Chorus: Noi siamo zingarelle) and others as matadors (Chorus: È Piquillo un bel gagliardo). Alfredo arrives and notices Violetta with Baron Douphol. Angered by off-handed remarks that Alfredo makes, Douphol challenges him to a game of cards and loses. The guests go in to dinner, but Violetta asks Alfredo to stay behind. She begs Alfredo to leave and avoid a violent confrontation with Douphol. Keeping her promise to Germont, she lies and says she loves Douphol. In a blind rage, Alfredo calls the guests back and humiliates Violetta publicly, throwing money at her and saying he has paid her in full (Ogni suo aver tal femmina). The guests are horrified (Chorus: O infamia orribile). Giorgio Germont has witnessed this scene, and shames his son for his outburst. Douphol challenges Alfredo to a duel. Alfredo is full of remorse but realizes he is unable to make amends as the guests attempt to console Violetta (Finale: Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core).
Act III
A few months later, Violetta is nearly penniless and gravely ill in her Paris apartment. Doctor Grenvil examines her and tells Annina that she has only a few hours to live. Violetta sends Annina away to give the rest of her money to the poor. Alone, she reads a letter from Germont, who confesses that he told his son of her sacrifice. Alfredo wants to visit her as soon as possible to beg forgiveness, but Violetta fears he might arrive too late (Addio del passato). Outside in the street, celebrations of the carnival can be heard (Chorus: Largo al quadrupede). At last, Alfredo returns and professes his love for her (Duet: Parigi, o cara). They talk of leaving Paris to start a new life together, but this is impossible given Violetta’s condition. Annina returns with the Doctor and Giorgio Germont, who is full of remorse. Violetta gives Alfredo a miniature portrait of herself. She says that if someday he happens to meet a girl whom he decides to marry, he should give her the portrait and tell her it is from someone in heaven who is praying for both of them. Suddenly, Violetta feels that all of her pain and suffering has vanished, but then dies after a final resurgence of strength.
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