Photo cred: Virginia Opera
On Friday, Virginia’s opera had presented an astounding performance of La traviata. La traviata means the fallen woman and was established in the early 1850’s as a production. The production was based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas. This production has three acts and has became a favorite for people that have attended the event.
One observer has exclaimed that the performers were “marvelous and the production was very crisp.”
In the first act of this dark and sensitive production Violetta Valéry, a famed courtesan throws a party because she had defeated her illness. She was delighted to be surrounded by friends as they drunk and dance the night away. Violetta was introduced to a man that adored her when she was ill. His name was Alfredo Germont and he described in vivid detail his love for her. Little did he realize that her boyfriend was observing their every move.
Into the wee hours of the party Violetta starts to feels dizzy and lays down for a bit. Her guest was concern about her, but she had exclaimed that she wanted to rest. While she was attempting to rest Alfredo had expressed his concern and his love for. At his first attempt Alfredo was reject by Violetta simply because she did not feel the same for him, but she was however intrigued by him. Later on that night she decided to meet him the next day.
In the second act both Violetta and Alfredo are living together in a peaceful setting on the outskirts of Paris. She has ditched her former lover and is madly in love with Alfredo. Her love was so strong that she was selling her possessions to help Alfredo out. 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.
At first Violleta was shocked that Giorgio Germont would even mention such a thing to her, but shocked turned into a furious rage of conflict between the two. Giorgio’s father wanted her to disappear from his son’s life, while Violetta wanted nothing more than to stay with her lover.
She agrees to leave, but leaves a note of remembrance to her lover and leaves for Paris. Alfredo is handed the note by a servant and starts to cry. His father comforts him and in the moment he is reminding of home, but he has a suspicion of what or who made Violetta want to leave. He leaves to confront Violetta at this party that she was invited to. He attends the party only to find her with Baron Douphol. He than questions Violetta about their love for each other and she just told him that she was in love with Baron.
Later on that night Violetta was made a mockery in front of everybody, because Baron told the guest at the party that he did not love her and to make matters worse he threw money at her like she was a whore. Alfredo did not like the idea of what Baron had done and went in search for him.
In the last act Violetta is very sick and has only a few weeks to live. 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. After asking her for his forgiveness Violetta has only minutes left tell her death approaches. Violetta and Alfredo had sung one last duet and she died in his arms.
The moral of this production is based on love and sacrifice.
For more information about the upcoming dates of this production, look at the dates below.
Carpenter Theatre at CenterStage
Richmond, VA
800.514.3849
Sun., Mar. 29, 2015 at 2:30pm