La Traviata: Baden Baden

LA TRAVIATA
Giuseppe Verdi.
Opera in 3 acts
Sung in Italian
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave

Baden-Baden
Recorded in 2015

Running Time: approximate 140 min – intermission not included between act 2 and 3
Running Time by Act: Act 1: 33 min Act 2: 1h05 Act 3: 40 min

CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado
Director Rolando Villlazón
Sets Johannes Leiacker
Costumes Thibault Vancraenenbroeck
Chorus Balthasar-Neumann-Chor
Orchestra Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble

ARTISTIC TEAMVioletta Valéry Olga Peretyatko
Alfredo Germont Atalla Ayan
Giorgio Germont Simone Piazzola
Flora Bervoix Christine Daletska
Gaston, Viconte de Létorières Emiliano Gonzalez Toro
Baron Douphol Tom Fox
Marquis von Obigny Konstantin Wolff
Annina Deniz Uzun
Dr. Grenvil Walter Fink

Presentation

Star tenor and director Rolando Villazón has staged probably Verdi’s best known masterpiece in colourful, lively and emotion-packed form at the Festspielhaus in Baden Baden, so he made for “an enthusiastic reception for the premiere” (Stuttgarter Zeitung)! Villazón’s signature, both as singer and director, is unmistakable. He made his international breakthrough as Alfredo Germont and now, 10 years later, the Mexican-born singer has produced a Traviata full of energy, attention to detail and even a hint of melancholy. Villazón chooses an unusual approach by relocating the action of the great and tragic love affair between Alfredo and the courtesan Violetta to the colourful and noisy world of the circus. Olga Peretyatko as Violetta delivers “a fantastic portrait of the title role wavering between adolescent joie de vivre, mature insight and anguish” (Stuttgarter Zeitung). Her partner is the young Brazilian tenor Atalla Ayan as the jealous Alfredo, who delivers a “beguiling interpretation with a dark, warm timbre and rich top notes” (Stuttgarter Zeitung). Simone Piazzolla as Alfredo’s strict father Giorgio Germont adds fine vocal lines to provide a strong sense of “Italianità” on stage (Neue Zürcher Zeitung). Directing the Balthasar Neumann Ensemble is the young Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado.

Synopsis

ACT I
Violetta Valéry, a demi-mondaine, is giving a big reception. A friend, Gaston, introduces the young Alfredo Germont who is secretly in love with her and has come each day for news during her recent illness. Violetta ironically remarks to her protector, Baron Douphol, that he shows less interest in her than this unknown young man. Alfredo proposes a toast. In an adjoining room dancing resumes, but Violetta, feeling suddenly faint, asks that she be left alone. Alfredo, though, remains with her. He declares his love, but Violetta, though touched, does not seem to take him seriously. Nevertheless, she gives him a flower and asks him to bring it back to her the next day when it has faded. The guests take their leave and, alone, Violetta admits to herself that she is troubled by this young man who has awakened within her dreams that have lain buried since childhood. But she pulls herself together : her destiny is not to live for the love of a single man and she must remain free to follow the paths of pleasure.

ACT II
Scene I: Three months have passed. Violetta has yielded to Alfredo’s love and has taken refuge with him in a country house. Alfredo sings of his joy and happiness. However, he learns from Annina, Violetta’s maid, that her mistress must sell her assets to meet their material needs. He decides to go back to Paris to find the necessary money. Violetta is expecting her business advisor, but it is Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father, who makes an appearance. He speaks to Violetta coldly, persuaded that the young woman is only interested in extracting money from his son. His manner softens when he discovers the truth, but he still asks Violetta to renounce Alfredo. She refuses. Germont tells her about his daughter who is unable to marry because of her brother’s scandalous liaison. Understanding that her past will always dog her, Violetta yields, death in her heart : she will leave Alfredo and take up her former life again.
Germont takes his leave, moved by the nobility of the woman he has compelled to sacrifice herself. She prepares to write a farewell letter to her lover. She is interrupted by Alfredo’s return and leaves after bidding farewell to the young man who is uncomprehending. He understands on opening the letter which Violetta has had brought to him a few moments later. Germont returns and, not mentioning his visit to Violetta, tries to console his despairing son and praises the virtues of family life. But Alfredo’s only thought is to find Violetta again.
Scene II: The party is in full swing at the house of Flora Bervoix, a friend of Violetta’s. Alfredo appears. Flora is astonished to see him alone, but then Violetta makes her entrance, accompanied by Baron Douphol. Alfredo’s only desire is vengeance. He plays at cards with the baron and wins a considerable sum. Violetta is torn between the desire to explain and the promise she has made to Germont. Finally, she pretends that she loves Douphol. Mad with rage, Alfredo throws the money in Violetta’s face in front of all the guests, thus paying her for his three months of love. Violetta faints and the baron provokes Alfredo to a duel. Germont, who has followed his son, reproaches him for insulting a woman in such a way.

Act III
Violetta is seriously ill and abandoned by everybody. Only the faithful Annina remains at her side. The doctor comes to visit her as he does every morning and confides to Annina that Violetta has only a few hours to live. Outside, the streets of Paris resound to the sounds of the carnival. Germont has written to the young woman to tell her that Alfredo wounded the baron in the duel. He had to go away, but his father has told him the truth and he is on his way back. Violetta awaits him desperately, even though she thinks it is now too late. Alfredo finally arrives. He asks Violetta to forgive him. They will leave Paris again and she will recover her health. Germont also comes to visit the young woman, whom he now considers as his daughter, but she has no strength left. One last burst of vitality seems to animate her, then she falls back, dead.