La Traviata (the one who went astray), probably Verdi’s best-known opera and one of the most performed ever, was staged at the Teatro Real in Willy Decker’s iconic modern production, which could not be performed in 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of people followed one of the performances live from cinemas. The performance was excellent, and Adela Zaharia was extraordinary as Violetta Valéry, the main role.
My favourite musical passage of the opera by far is when Alfredo’s father comes to tell Violeta Alfredo can’t be with her. He tells her to cry and let it all out while she begs him for another chance, and it’s a beautiful duet, but my favourite part is simply the four notes Giorgio sings at the start of the section accompanied by a brief sort of counterpoint in the orchestra “piangi, piangi”.
Music by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1883)
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on La dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas Jr
Premiered at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice on 6 March 1853, and at the Teatro Real on 1 February 1855
Produced by the Dutch National Opera & Ballet
Musical conductor: Henrik Nánási
Stage direction: Willy Decker
Set design and costumes: Wolfgang Gusmann
Costumes: Susana Mendoza
Lighting: Hans Toelstede
Choreography: Athol John Farmer
Replacement of set design: Thomas Bruner
Chorus master: José Luis Basso
Violetta Valéry: Adela Zaharia
Flora Bervoix: Karina Demurova
Annina: Gemma Coma-Alabert
Alfredo Germont: Xabier Anduaga
Giorgio Germont: Artur Rucinski
Gastone de Letorières: Albert Casals
Barone Douphol: Tomeu Bibiloni
Marchese d’Obigny: David Lagares
Dottore Grenvil: Giacomo Prestia
Giuseppe: Joan Laínez
Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real
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