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La traviata

19 April - 20 May 2014 | Main Stage

Verdi’s tragic tale of a Parisian courtesan who sacrifices all for love is vividly presented in Richard Eyre’s production.

Photos

  • Vittorio Grigolo as Alfredo Germont and Bernarda Bobro as Violetta Valéry in La Traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2012
  • Vittorio Grigolo as Alfredo Germont and Bernarda Bobro as Violetta Valéry in La Traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2012
  • Vittorio Grigolo as Alfredo Germont in La Traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2012
  • Vittorio Grigolo as Alfredo Germont in La Traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2012
  • Bernarda Bobro as Violetta in La traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2012
  • La traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2011
  • La traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2011
  • La traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2011
  • La traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2011
  • La traviata © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2011

When to see it

Booking for 19 April 2014 - 20 May 2014 opens

Saturday 19 April 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Damrau
  • Demuro
  • Hvorostovsky
  • de Souza
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • White
  • Gomes
  • Pring
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Monday 21 April 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Damrau
  • Demuro
  • Hvorostovsky
  • de Souza
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • White
  • Gomes
  • Pring
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Thursday 24 April 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Damrau
  • Demuro
  • Hvorostovsky
  • de Souza
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • White
  • Gomes
  • Pring
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Saturday 26 April 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Damrau
  • Demuro
  • Hvorostovsky
  • de Souza
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • White
  • Gomes
  • Pring
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Wednesday 30 April 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Damrau
  • Demuro
  • Hvorostovsky
  • de Souza
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • White
  • Gomes
  • Pring
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Saturday 3 May 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Damrau
  • Demuro
  • Hvorostovsky
  • de Souza
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • White
  • Gomes
  • Pring
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Tuesday 6 May 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Pérez
  • Costello
  • Keenlyside
  • Riches
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • Mattar
  • Butt Philip
  • Keeble
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Friday 9 May 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Damrau
  • Demuro
  • Keenlyside
  • de Souza
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • White
  • Gomes
  • Pring
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Monday 12 May 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Pérez
  • Costello
  • Keenlyside
  • Riches
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • Mattar
  • Butt Philip
  • Keeble
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Saturday 17 May 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Ettinger
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Pérez
  • Costello
  • Keenlyside
  • Riches
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • Mattar
  • Butt Philip
  • Keeble
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale
Tuesday 20 May 2014, 7.00pm | Main Stage
  • Griffiths
  • Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
  • Pérez
  • Costello
  • Keenlyside
  • Riches
  • Kim
  • Karyazina
  • Mattar
  • Butt Philip
  • Keeble
  • Royal Opera Chorus
Not on sale

Introduction

Alfredo and the courtesan Violetta fall passionately in love. But Violetta is seriously ill and Alfredo’s father disapproves of their relationship – can their love overcome such obstacles?

Background

‘A toast to the pleasures of life!’ – so sings Violetta, her new admirer Alfredo and her party guests in the opening scene of Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata. But beneath the surface glamour of Violetta’s Parisian life run darker undercurrents: her doomed love for Alfredo and the tensions the lovers encounter when they break society’s conventions. La traviata, based on Alexander Dumas fils’s play La Dame aux camélias, is one of Verdi’s most popular operas, combining drama, passion and memorable melodies.

Richard Eyre’s classic production conveys the indulgent social whirl of 19th-century Paris. It provides a vivid setting for Verdi’s tuneful score, which includes such favourites as Violetta’s introspective ‘Ah fors’è lui’; the duet ‘Pura siccome un angelo’ as Germont père pleads for his daughter with Violetta; and ‘Parigi, o cara’, in which the lovers poignantly imagine a life that will never be theirs. The role of Violetta (the ‘fallen woman’ of the title) is one of Verdi’s most complex characters. It was played to great acclaim by Angela Gheorghiu in this production’s 1994 premiere.

Thanks to

Generous Philanthropic Support from

Phyl Corrie in memory of John Corrie

How to support the Royal Opera House

Running time

About 3 hours 10 minutes | Including two intervals

Language

Sung in Italian with English surtitles

Credits

DirectorRichard Eyre
DesignsBob Crowley
Lighting designJean Kalman
Director of movementJane Gibson

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