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Venue

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney

Language

Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Running time

Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including two intervals.

Production partner

Qantas Logo

Raise your glass, bat your lashes, it’s Paris in the salons and you’re the life of this party. He’s staring at you, he’s singing for you…Are you tempted?

Violetta wears velvet and lace and drinks only the finest champagne from crystal glasses. Her parties are legendary, her company desired. She’s free and freespirited, living outside society’s bounds, and for the courtesan, it seems like the party will never end. Could a little love really change everything?

La Traviata is so popular because it puts a life we can only dream of on stage, with its risqué glamour, joys and sorrows.

Verdi’s music sings of freedom with flying melodies, makes merry with rousing drinking songs and leaves us with passionate duets between breaking hearts.

This production by Elijah Moshinsky is one of our most successful, featuring lush party scenes in Paris and beautiful autumn afternoons in the countryside.

Lavish sets and exquisite costumes combined with Verdi’s famous score offer the perfect way to experience opera for the first time, or the chance to revisit a favourite with an exciting new cast.

Cast & Creative

Conductor
Tahu Matheson (Oct–Nov)
Director
Revival Director
Warwick Doddrell (Oct–Nov)
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Choreographer
Violetta Valéry
Irina Lungu (Oct–Nov)
Alfredo Germont
Ji-Min Park (Oct–Nov)
Giorgio Germont
Mario Cassi (Jul)
Luke Gabbedy (Oct–Nov)
Flora Bervoix
Agnes Sarkis (Jul)
Celeste Haworth (Oct–Nov)
Gastone
Baron Douphol
Marquis d'Obigny
Andrew Moran (Oct–Nov)
Doctor Grenvil
Annina
Giuseppe
Messenger
Servant

Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra

La Traviata at Arts Centre Melbourne (2022)

Photographer: Jeff Busby

La Traviata at Arts Centre Melbourne (2022)

Photographer: Jeff Busby

La Traviata at Arts Centre Melbourne (2022)

Photographer: Jeff Busby

La Traviata at Arts Centre Melbourne (2022)

Photographer: Jeff Busby

La Traviata at Arts Centre Melbourne (2022)

Photographer: Jeff Busby

La Traviata at Arts Centre Melbourne (2022)

Photographer: Jeff Busby

La Traviata at Arts Centre Melbourne (2022)

Photographer: Jeff Busby

La Traviata, 2022

Cheat Sheet: La Traviata

Here's what you need about the world's most popular opera.

What happens in the story? Who was the composer? What should I expect from the music? Here’s everything you need to know…

Read the cheat sheet

 

Overture Dining at the Sydney Opera House

Enjoy dinner before the opera

Overture Dining at Sydney Opera House

Allow us to make your dinner reservation for you: at Overture Dining in the Northern Foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. You’ll be served a three-course menu for just $97.

See the menu

 

Covid Safe logo

Keeping you safe at the theatre

COVID Safety

Our performances will comply with all Public Health Orders and adhere to our epidemiologist-approved COVID-Safe Plan.

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Synopsis

Act I

Violetta has been to a sanatorium to treat her tuberculosis. On her return to health she throws a party to mark her re-emergence in the demi-monde under the protection of Baron Duphol. Her guests have just completed a long lunch and the Baron is reading the last pages of a novel by Dumas to Violetta as Flora enters with her protector the Marquis.

Alfredo is introduced to Violetta by the decadent Gaston. Alfredo has begged Gaston to introduce him to Violetta. He has long been enthralled by her and has enquired after Violetta every day of her illness.

Violetta insists that everyone sits together and drinks a toast to the occasion. Alfredo is prevailed upon to sing a drinking song from Provence.

As the guests leave to dance in the ballroom, Violetta feels faint and is momentarily left alone. Alfredo re-enters and confesses his love for her. She asks him to return the following day.

After her guests leave and she is alone, Violetta begins to consider the conflicting feelings of love and hedonism that are pulling her in opposite directions.

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