NATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET – OPERA
51 MAY OPERA EVENINGS

GIUSEPPE VERDI
“LA TRAVIATA”
21.05.2023

Conductor: Stefano Vignati (Italy)
Director: Verena Stöber (Germany)
Set designer and costume designer: Sophie Schneider (Germany)
Choreographer: Sasha Eftimova
Assistant director: Trajko Jordanovski, Ljupka Jakimovska
Asst. Conductor: Katerina Stojkovska
Concertmaster: Verica Lambevska
Light design: Vasil Lisichov
Choir master: Jasmina Gjorgjeska
Accompanist: Elena Siljanoska, Janinka Nevcheva, Andreja Naunov, Jordan Petrushevski
Stage managers: Ljupco Polizov, Dragan Kostadinovikj, Marko Pavlevski
Prompter: Nevena Georgieva

CAST:
Violetta Valerie: Ana Durlovski
Alfredo Germont: Blagoj Nacoski
Giorgio Germont: Carlos Almaguer Villalobos (Spain)
Flora Bervoix: Marika Popovikj
Annina: Aleksandra Lazarovska Vasilevski
Baron Douphol: Vasko Zdravkov
Marchese d’Obigny: Dragan Ampov
Gastone: Dejan Stoev
Dr. Grenvil: Borko Bidzovski
Giuseppe: Igor Ginovski
Commissioner: Dime Petrov

The choir, the ballet ensemble and the orchestra of the National Opera and Ballet

*Duration of the performance 130 minutes

SYNOPSIS

Opera in 3 acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Based on the novel „La dame aux Camélias” by Alexandre Dumas. First performance: Teatro la Fenice, Venice, March 6, 1853.

I ACT

In her Paris salon, the courtesan Violetta Valéry greets party guests, including Flora Bervoix, the Marquis d’Obigny, Baron Douphol, and Gastone, who introduces a new admirer, Alfredo Germont. This young man, having adored Violetta from a far joins her in a drinking song. Music is heard in the next room, but as guests move there to dance, Violetta suffers a dizzy spell and she retreats to her parlor to recover. Alfredo comes in, and since they are alone, confesses his love for Violetta. At first she protests that love means nothing to her. However, something about the young man’s sincerity touches her, and she promises to meet him the next day. After the guests have gone, Violetta wonders if Alfredo could actually be the man she could love. But she decides she wants freedom, though Alfredo’s voice, heard outside, argues in favor of romance.

II ACT

Some months later Alfredo and Violetta are living in a country house near Paris, where he praises their contentment. But when the maid, Annina, reveals that Violetta has pawned her jewels to keep the house, Alfredo leaves for the city to settle matters at his own cost. Violetta comes looking for him and finds an invitation from Flora to a party that night. Violetta has no intention of going back to her old life, but trouble intrudes with the appearance of Alfredo’s father, George Germont. Though impressed by Violetta’s ladylike manners, he demands she renounce his son. Alone, the desolate woman sends a message of acceptance to Flora and begins a farewell note to Alfredo. He enters suddenly, surprising her, and she can barely control herself as she reminds him of how deeply she loves him before rushing out. Now a servant hands Alfredo her farewell note as Germont returns to console his son with reminders of the wonderful family life in Provence. But Alfredo, seeing Flora’s invitation, suspects Violetta has thrown him over for another lover. Furious, he determines to confront her at the party.

III ACT

At her soirée that evening, Flora learns from the Marquis Obigni that Violetta and Alfredo have parted, and then clears the floor for hired entertainers – a band of fortune-telling Gypsies and some matadors who sing of Piquillo and his coy sweetheart. Soon Alfredo strides in, making bitter comments about love and gambling recklessly at cards. Violetta has arrived with Baron Douphol, who challenges Alfredo to a game of cards. At the gambling table the Baron loses a small fortune to him. Everyone is barracking , but Violetta asks Alfredo to see her alone. Fearful of the Baron’s anger, she wants Alfredo to leave, but he misunderstands her apprehension and demands that she admit she loves the Baron. Crushed, she pretends she does. Now Alfredo calls in the others, denounces his former love and hurls his winnings at her feet. Germont enters in time to see this and denounces his son’s behavior. The guests rebuke Alfredo and Douphol challenges him to a duel. In Violetta Valéry’s bedroom six months later, Dr. Grenvil tells Annina her mistress has not long to live: tuberculosis has claimed her. Alone, Violetta rereads a letter from Germont saying the Baron was only wounded in his duel with Alfredo, who knows all and is on his way to beg her pardon. But Violetta senses it is too late. Paris is celebrating Mardi Gras and, after revelers pass outside, Annina rushes in to announce Alfredo. The lovers ecstatically plan to leave Paris forever. Germont enters with the doctor before Violetta is seized with a last resurgence of strength. Feeling life return, she staggers and falls dead at her lover’s feet.