La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi
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Opera in Williamsburg presents: La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi September 12, 14 and 16, 2018 Kimball Theatre, Williamsburg, Virginia 2 Opera in Williamsburg Naama Zahavi-Ely Founder and Artistic Director Jorge Parodi, Music Director Opera in Williamsburg is an innovative opera company, founded in 2012, that creates productions of fully-staged opera classics with world-class casts in an intimate setting in Williamsburg, Virginia. Funded by ticket sales, individual contributions, and grants, Opera in Williamsburg is committed to the highest artistic standards and maintains a relationship with the International Vocal Arts Institute (IVAI), founded and run by Joan Dornemann and Paul Nadler. Opera in Williamsburg’s objectives are: Create effective, attractive, engaging and elegant mainstream opera productions with outstanding singers, committed acting and directing, and meticulous ensemble work. Provide opportunities for exceptional singers, musicians, and other artists to earn a living by their art. Attract new audiences to live, mainstream opera, with a special focus on younger audiences and school-age students. Opera in Williamsburg, Inc is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization with 501(c)3 letter of recognition from the IRS (EIN 47-5511655). We are very thankful indeed for the support of members of the community, which has allowed us to reach this point. Volunteers are welcome to join the group of loyal friends whose contributions of advice, assistance, hospitality and funding are essential to our work. If you are interested, please contact our advisory board chair Oliver Portmann at 757-903-1140 or by email at [email protected]. Opera in Williamsburg is supported in part by generous grants of the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission (WAAC), the York County Arts Commission (YCAC), the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). It works in partnership with the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF). 3 Don’t miss our next opera! Mozart’s The Magic Flute May 5, 7, and 9, 2019 Conductor: Jorge Parodi Winter Dinner Concert and Auction, February 3, 2019 Our heartfelt thanks to Opera in Williamsburg Advisory Board Oliver Portmann (chair) Clyde Haulman Susan Baime Linda Kligman-Try Jayne Barnard Paul Maramaldi Gulay Berryman Brenda Mitchell Dot Bryant Jorge Parodi Michael Bryant Linda Collins Reilly Carolyn Campbell Don Williams Branch Fields Naama Zahavi-Ely New board members are welcome! 4 La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave World premiere: Venice, Teatro la Fenice, 1853 September 12, 14 and 16, 2018 At the Kimball Theatre, Williamsburg, Virginia Conductor: Jorge Parodi Stage director: Fabrizio Melano Orchestra reduction by Osamu Sasaki Violetta Valéry, a courtesan .............................................. Haeran Hong, Soprano Alfredo Germont, a young man from a provincial family ... Won Whi Choi, Tenor Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father .................................. Marco Nistico, Baritone Flora Bervoix, Violetta's friend ............................. Kirsten Scott, Mezzo-Soprano Annina, Violetta's maid ............................................ Megan Pachecano, Soprano Gastone de Letorières, Alfredo's friend ......................... Pavel Suliandziga, Tenor Baron Douphol, Violetta's lover ...........................................Suchan Kim, Baritone Marquis d'Obigny ....................................................... William Desbiens, Baritone Dottore Grenvil ........................................................... Eric Lindsey, Bass-Baritone Giuseppe, Violetta's servant ....................................................... Eric Lamp, Tenor Assistant to the Music Director ..................................................... Abdiel Vazquez Costumes ................................................................................................. Eric Lamp Lighting ....................................................................... Deborah Jo Knopik-Barrett Supertitles adaptation and projected backgrounds ................ Naama Zahavi-Ely Production / Stage Manager ...................................... Deborah Jo Knopik-Barrett Assistant Director / Assistant Stage Manager ............................ Louis Markowitz Crew ...................................................................... Rose Paddock, John Robinson Producer ..................................................................................... Naama Zahavi-Ely 5 LA TRAVIATA — SYNOPSIS ACT I: Paris, at Violetta’s apartment Violetta Valéry, a popular society courtesan, knows that she is sick and will die soon. At a party she is giving she is introduced to Alfredo Germont, who has been in love with her from a distance for a year. The guests ask Alfredo to pro- pose a toast. He celebrates feasting and love, and Violetta responds in praise of company and pleasure. The guests move on to dancing; Violetta suddenly feels faint. Alfredo remains behind and declares his love. Violetta replies that she can only offer friendship. She gives him a camellia, asking him to return when the flower has faded. He realizes this means an invitation for the follow- ing day. Alone, Violetta is torn by conflicting emotions—she is attracted by Alfredo and his love, but does not think that such love is realistic for her. Ra- ther, she will drive herself from pleasure to pleasure in society in the time she has left. ACT II scene 1: A house in the country Violetta has chosen a life with Alfredo, and they enjoy their love in the coun- try, far from society. When Alfredo discovers that this is only possible because Violetta has been selling her property to cover their expenses, he immediately leaves for Paris to procure money. Violetta has received an invitation from Flora to a ball, but she no longer cares for such distractions. In Alfredo’s ab- sence, his father, Giorgio Germont, appears. He scolds Violetta for ruining his son, but finds that she is not after his son’s money. Her liaison with his son, though, threatens his daughter’s impending marriage. He appeals to Vio- letta’s generosity of spirit and explains that her liaison with Alfredo has no future. Violetta’s resistance dwindles and she finally agrees to leave Alfredo forever; she asks his father to tell him the truth after her death, so that he would not curse her memory. She accepts the invitation to the ball, writes a goodbye letter to Alfredo, and leaves for Paris. Alfredo is shocked by the letter, and his father appears to console him. But the father’s hopes of return- ing to the past are crushed as the furious and jealous Alfredo dashes to Paris to seek revenge for Violetta’s betrayal. ACT II scene 2: Paris, at Flora’s apartment Alfredo appears at the party without Violetta and joins the gamblers. Violetta arrives with her lover, Baron Douphol. Alfredo and the baron battle at the gaming table, and Alfredo wins a fortune: unlucky in love, lucky at cards. Vio- letta tries to warn Alfredo to get away from the Baron, but refuses to return with Alfredo to the country – she claims to love the baron. In his rage Alfredo calls the guests as witnesses and declares that he has paid Violetta in full. He 6 throws his winnings at her feet. The company reacts with horror. Giorgio Ger- mont appears and rebukes his son for his treatment of Violetta. The baron challenges Alfredo to a duel. ACT III: Paris Violetta is dying. Doctor Grenvil knows that she has only a few more hours to live. Alfredo’s father has written to Violetta, informing her that his son was not injured in the duel, and that the Baron was injured but was recovering. Alfre- do, who had fled abroad after the duel, can now return. Germont has told his son about Violetta’s sacrifice, and Alfredo will rejoin her as soon as possible. Violetta is afraid that he might be too late. Alfredo arrives and the two fall in each other’s arms, full of hopes for a recovery for Violetta away from Paris. However, it is too late – even Alfredo’s return cannot bring Violetta back to health now. She tells Alfredo that she will pray in heaven for him and for the wife she wishes him to marry. Strangely, her suffering disappears, and she feels herself reviving . 7 JORGE PARODI (MUSIC DIRECTOR) Internationally acclaimed conductor Jorge Parodi has worked extensively in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Recent credits include Il barbiere di Siviglia and Le nozze di Figaro for Opera Tampa; María de Buenos Aires for The Atlanta Opera and Opera Grand Rapids; Lucrezia Borgia and I Capuleti e i Montecchi for Buenos Aires Lírica; The Turn of the Screw for the Castleton Festival and The Banff Centre; and Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges for The Juilliard School. Upcoming en- gagements include his return to The Atlanta Opera and Opera Tampa, and his debuts at New York City Opera, Opera Orlando and Chautauqua Opera. Re- viewed as having “the most expressive conducting hands since Stokowski” by the New York Daily News, Argentinean-born Jorge Parodi has worked with such com- panies as the Teatro Colón in Argentina and the Volgograd Opera in Russia, and he has collaborated with such artists as Isa- bel Leonard, Eglise Gutierrez, Tito Capobian- co and Sherrill Milnes. Since 2012 Parodi has been the Music Direc- tor of Opera in Williamsburg, where he has conducted Rigoletto, Il trovatore, L'elisir d’amore, Lucia di Lammermoor, La ceneren- tola and Così fan tutte, among other titles. He is also the Music Director of the Senior Opera Theatre at the Manhattan School of Music, where he has led its productions