La traviata media release

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EVENTS

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Pittsburgh, PA…
September 6, 2016

Contact:
Chris Cox, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: 412.281.0912 ext. 217
Mobile: 412.427.7088 or
Contact via email

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Pittsburgh Opera opens its 78th season with the Giuseppe Verdi favorite La traviata, at the Benedum Center October 8th -16th.

La traviata – the fallen woman – is a compelling tale of love, intrigue, money, and power in 19th century France.

It tells the heart-wrenching story of courtesan Violetta Valéry, played by Pittsburgh favorite Danielle Pastin. Alfredo Germont – played by Cody Austin in his Pittsburgh Opera debut – wins Violetta’s love and his father’s displeasure. His father, going behind Alfredo’s back, coerces Violetta into breaking up with Alfredo because their relationship threatens his daughter’s engagement and his family’s reputation.

Violetta will not disclose his father’s role in their breakup, so Alfredo erroneously believes she loves someone else. He publicly denounces her, leaving them both grief-stricken. Will they reconcile before it’s too late?

Pittsburgh Opera will be performing a production of La traviata which is new to Pittsburgh. Set in 19th century Paris, it does not shy away from some of the more ribald aspects of that society.

On stage October 8, 11, 14 & 16, La traviata is an unforgettable way to open the opera season. Tickets start at just $12 and are available online.

Performance dates/times/location/length

Where: Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, Downtown Pittsburgh

When:

Saturday, October 8th, 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 11th, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 14th, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 16th, 2:00 p.m.

Run Time: 2 hours 12 minutes, including 2 intermissions

Language: Sung in Italian with English texts projected above the stage

Media Events / Photographs

Media are welcome to attend and take photographs at these events:

Photo Call (9/26, 12:30 PM) – Artifacts Antique Store, 110 S Main St, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Full Dress Rehearsal (10/6, 7:00 – 10:00 PM), Benedum Center

If you are unable to attend but would like photographs to use in previews, reviews, etc., please contact Chris Cox at:

Office: 412.281.0912 ext. 217
Mobile: 412.427.7088
Or via email

Related Events

Opera Up Close (9/25)
WQED Preview (10/1 & 10/7)
Meet the Artists (10/11)
Audio Commentary (10/11)

Tickets

Tickets to La traviata start at just $12.

Buy tickets online
Order by phone at 412-456-6666
Visit the Theatre Square Box Office
Group discounts are available. For discounted group tickets (6 or more), contact Regina Connolly at 412-281-0912, x 213

Three facts about La traviata

La traviata is the opera that Richard Gere took Julia Roberts to see in the hit movie Pretty Woman. In the movie, Julia Roberts plays a prostitute who falls in love with a wealthy man, and La traviata moved her character deeply enough to exclaim “it was so good I almost peed my pants.”
As the most popular opera in the world, even non-opera fans know the music from La traviata. It’s been featured in TV commercials for all things Italian, and the Brindisi drinking song was the bedrock of a classic Heineken commercial.
Violetta wears a white camellia flower on her dress, which she removes in the first act and tosses to Alfredo. In the book Lady of the Camellias by Alexander Dumas, fils, which La traviata is based on, the Violetta character, also a prostitute, wears a white camellia to signify she is ‘available’ for customers, and a red one to signify she is not.

Cast and Creative Team

Full information on La traviata's cast and creative team can be found on La traviata's landing page.

The Story, in brief

Pittsburgh Opera’s production of Verdi's La traviata takes place in France during the mid-1800s.

A synopsis of the plot can be found on La traviata's landing page.