A ravishing Parisian courtesan…a reckless young man…
the opera that brought Julia Roberts to tears in Pretty Woman!
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 8:00pm
Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 2:30pm
at the historic Tennessee Theatre
Opera preview hosted by Maestro Salesky begins 45 minutes prior to each performance
The Metropolitan Opera’s captivating Joyce El-Khoury (star of KO’s 2009 Pagliacci) returns to sing the legendary Violetta. Exciting tenor Zach Borichevsky debuts as the heartbroken Alfredo.
In Italian with projected English translations
Shown below are photos from Knoxville Opera’s production of La Traviata at the Tennessee Theatre on October 28 and 30, 2011
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KETURAH STICKANN (Stage Director)
JOYCE EL-KHOURY (Violetta Valéry)
ZACH BORICHEVSKY (Alfredo Germont)
MARK WOMACK (Giorgio Germont)
KEVIN THOMPSON (Dottor Grenvil)
A Word From the Stage Director:
We all know how La Traviata ends. Violetta’s demise, like Manon’s, like Mimi’s, is iconic in the opera world. This young woman has died of consumption in every possible medium: in the opera of course, as Marguerite in both the play and novel, La Dame aux Camellias (known as Camille in the English speaking world), and in real life as the famous courtesan, Marie Duplessis, who is the beginning of the myth. In fact, Alexandre Dumas fils, the author of the book and play and a lover of Duplessis, places such importance on the necessity of this mercurial creature dying, that he makes her estate sale and the exhumation of her rotting corpse the beginning of the novel. The story of her life and lifestyle are told only in flashback by the men who loved and lusted after her. In the mid-19th century world of the demi-monde, the only way for a courtesan to escape this life with any dignity was to die young, a strange punishment of exultation in a lifestyle that is and was both romanticized and demonized. Death is cruel, but an aging prostitute may be even crueler.
In the spirit of Dumas fils, I have put the elephant in the room from the beginning. To understand Violetta’s decisions and lifestyle, we must also understand and accept her impending demise. She can’t escape it, and as a sympathetic audience, we mustn’t either. Does dying young leave Violetta dignified or humiliated? This is for you to decide. What cannot be denied is that her death is an end of innocence, and in the world of Dumas fils, most certainly a moral comment on a reckless life. For him, this is a tragedy that must exist in our psyche if we are to stay on our best behavior.
-Keturah Stickann, Stage Director, La Traviata
Verdi’s La Traviata Synopsis
(Location: Paris and vicinity, the beginning of the 18th century)
Act 1:The salon in Violetta’s house; Violetta Valéry, a famed courtesan, throws a lavish party at her Paris salon to celebrate her recovery from an illness. Gastone, a count, has brought with him his friend, the young nobleman Alfredo Germont, who has long adored Violetta from afar. While walking to the salon, Gastone tells Violetta that Alfredo loves her, and that while she was ill, he came to her house every day. Alfredo joins them, admitting the truth of Gastone’s remarks.
The Baron, Violetta’s current lover, waits nearby to escort her to the salon where the Baron is asked to give a toast, but he refuses, and the crowd turns to Alfredo.
From the next room, the sound of the orchestra is heard and the guests move there to dance. Feeling dizzy, Violetta asks her guests to go ahead and to leave her to rest until she recovers. While the guests dance in the next room, Violetta looks at her pale face in her mirror. Alfredo enters and expresses his concern for her fragile health, later declaring his love for her. At first she rejects him because his love means nothing to her, but there is something about Alfredo that touches her heart. He is about to leave when she gives him a flower, telling him to return it when it has wilted. She promises to meet him the next day.
After the guests leave, Violetta wonders if Alfredo could actually be the one in her life. But she concludes that she needs freedom to live her life. From off stage, Alfredo’s voice is heard singing about love as he walks down the street.
Act 2; Scene 1: Violetta’s country house outside Paris, three months later; Alfredo and Violetta are living together in a peaceful country house outside Paris. Violetta has fallen in love with Alfredo and she has completely abandoned her former life. Alfredo sings of their happy life together. Annina, the maid, arrives from Paris, and, when questioned by Alfredo, tells him that she went there to sell the horses, carriages and everything owned by Violetta to support their country lifestyle.
Alfredo is shocked to learn this and leaves for Paris immediately to settle matters himself. Violetta returns home and receives an invitation from her friend, Flora, to a party in Paris that evening. Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont, is announced and demands that she break off her relationship with his son for the sake of his family, since he reveals that Violetta’s relationship with Alfredo has threatened his daughter’s engagement because of Violetta’s reputation. Meanwhile, reluctantly, he becomes impressed by Violetta’s nobility, something which he did not expect from a courtesan. She responds that she cannot end the relationship because she loves him so much, but Giorgio pleads with her for the sake of his family. With growing remorse, she finally agrees and says goodbye to Giorgio. In a gesture of gratitude for her kindness and sacrifice, Giorgio kisses her forehead before leaving her weeping alone.
Violetta gives a note to Annina to send to Flora accepting the party invitation and, as she is writing a farewell letter to Alfredo, he enters. She can barely control her sadness and tears; she tells him repeatedly of her unconditional love. Before rushing out and setting off for Paris, she hands the farewell letter to her servant to give to Alfredo.
Soon, the servant brings the letter to Alfredo and, as soon as he has read it, Giorgio returns and attempts to comfort his son, reminding him of his family in Provence. Alfredo suspects the Baron is behind his separation with Violetta and the party invitation, which he finds on the desk, strengthens his suspicions. He determines to confront Violetta at the party. Giorgio tries to stop Alfredo, but he rushes out.
Act 2; Scene 2: Party at Flora’s house; At the party, the Marquis tells Flora that Violetta and Alfredo have separated. She calls for the entertainers to perform for the guests. Gastone and his friends join the matadors.
Violetta arrives with Baron Douphol. They see Alfredo at the gambling table. When he sees them, Alfredo loudly proclaims that he will take Violetta home with him. Feeling annoyed, the Baron goes to the gambling table and joins him in a game. As they bet, Alfredo wins some large sums until Flora announces that supper is ready. Alfredo leaves with handfuls of money.
As everyone is leaving the room, Violetta has asked Alfredo to see her. Fearing that the Baron’s anger will lead him to challenge Alfredo to a duel, she gently asks Alfredo to leave. Alfredo misunderstands her apprehension and demands that she admit that she loves the Baron. In grief, she makes that admission and, furiously, Alfredo calls the guests to witness what he has to say. He humiliates and denounces Violetta in front of the guests, and then throws his winnings at her feet. She falls, fainting onto the floor. The guests reprimand Alfredo: “Leave at once, we despise you. You have insulted a noble lady”.
In search of his son, Giorgio enters the hall and, knowing the real significance of the scene, denounces his son’s behavior.
Flora and the ladies attempt to persuade Violetta to leave the dining room, but Violetta turns to Alfredo: Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core non puoi comprendere tutto l’amore – “Alfredo, Alfredo, you can’t imagine the love in my heart for you”.
Act 3: Violetta’s bedroom; Dr. Grenvil tells Annina that Violetta will not live long since her tuberculosis has worsened. Alone in her room, Violetta reads a letter from Alfredo’s father telling her that the Baron was only wounded in his duel with Alfredo; that he has informed Alfredo of the sacrifice she has made for him and his sister; and that he is sending his son to see her as quickly as possible to ask for her forgiveness. But Violetta senses it is too late.
Annina rushes in the room to tell Violetta of Alfredo’s arrival. The lovers are reunited and Alfredo suggests that they leave Paris.
But it is too late: she knows her time is up. Alfredo’s father enters with the doctor, regretting what he has done. After singing a duet with Alfredo, Violetta suddenly revives, exclaiming that the pain and discomfort has left her. A moment later, she dies in Alfredo’s arms.
