LA TRAVIATA

Artistic Team

Conductor - Christian Capocaccia 
Stage Director - Chas Rader-Shieber
Set Designer - Julia Noulin-Mérat
Costume Designer -  Jacob Climer
Lighting Designer -  Mike Inwood
Wig & Make-up Designer - James Geier
Stage Manager - Cindy Knight
Asst. Conductor - Glenn Lewis
Chorus Master - Mark Trawka
Associate Coach/Pianist - James Lesniak
Asst Stage Director - Frances Rabalais*
Asst Lighting Designer - Todd Nonn
Asst. Stage Manager  - Sarah Cowing
Asst Stage Manager  - Attitra Lelahuta

_{+    Pittsburgh Opera debut
*     Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist
**   Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist alumni}

_{Production owned by Boston Lyric Opera.}

We want you to have the best experience possible at our performances!

Here are some details and resources to help. Also visit our Opera FAQs or our Accessibility page.

• Run time is 2 hours, 43 minutes, including two intermissions
• Study Guide for La Traviata (PDF), created by our Education department
• Understand Every Word: La traviata is sung in Italian, but English supertitles are shown at all performances
• Parking Downtown: get real-time parking availability
• Audio Description available at The Benedum Center
• Braille Programs available at The Benedum Center
• Large-Print Programs available at The Benedum Center

The story opens in Paris. Violetta Valéry has been out most of the night running from party to party with her friends, who are now continuing the festivities in her upscale apartment.

An admirer of Violetta’s, Alfredo Germont, who has long adored her from afar, flirts with her in a rousing drinking song, the famous Brindisi “Libiamo ne’lieti calici”. 

Alfredo then proceeds to confess to Violetta that he has loved her for more than a year. Moved, Violetta attempts to warn Alfredo, saying that she “doesn’t know how to love.” Besides, as you’ll hear in a stunning aria, Violetta wants to be ‘sempre libera’ – always free. “Free and aimless she must flutter, from pleasure to pleasure.”

Alfredo eventually wins Violetta over, and they move to a house in the country.  Alfredo sings about how happy he has been ever since Violetta told him “I want to live, faithful to you alone.”  

However, Alfredo’s father Giorgio Germont disapproves of Violetta’s relationship with Alfredo, because it threatens his family’s reputation and also his daughter’s engagement. He coerces Violetta into breaking up with Alfredo, then returns to console his son and remind him of his loving family back home in Provence.

Alfredo confronts Violetta at a party. She will not disclose his father’s role in their breakup, so Alfredo erroneously believes she loves someone else. Angry, he scorns her and storms off.

Violetta and Alfredo are both miserable. Six months later, Germont finally confesses his plot to Alfredo. Alfredo regrets the way he mistreated Violetta and attempts to reconcile. Violetta, however, is sadly succumbing to tuberculosis, and bids farewell “to happy dreams of by-gone days.” Alfredo's father enters with a doctor, regretting what he has done. However, it is too late- she dies in Alfredo's arms.

Here's what other people are saying about La traviata:

• KQV-AM 1410 interviews Danielle Pastin
• WQED 'Voice of the Arts' podcast interviews with Anna Singer
  • Christopher Hahn
  • Danielle Pastin
  • Stage Director Chas Rader-Schieber
  • Sebastian Catana
• The Almanac article on Sebastian Catana - Bethel Park baritone: ‘La Traviata’ marks resident’s first performance with Pittsburgh Opera
• Tribune Review preview article - Pittsburgh Opera opens season with Verdi's 'La Traviata'
• Post Gazette preview article - Pittsburgh Opera opens its 78th season with Verdi's popular display piece
• Broadway World - Photo Flash: First Look at LA TRAVIATA at Artifacts Antique Store in Pittsburgh
• Entertainment Central - October Theater Guide
• Pittsburgh Magazine - Best of Culture in Pittsburgh
• Pittsburgh Post Gazette review 
• Tribune Review review - Pittsburgh Opera delivers strong 'La Traviata'
• Pittsburgh In The Round review - La traviata
• NEXT pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Opera presents new production of Verdi favorite La traviata
• Pittsburgh City Paper - Short List Oct. 7-13
• Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Soprano sings 2 parts in 'La traviata'

See more Pittsburgh Opera videos on our YouTube channel.

Alfredo (Cody Austin) sings of his love for Violetta (Danielle Pastin), who replies that all she can offer is friendship since she doesn't know how to love.

Violetta (Danielle Pastin) ponders whether she should return Alfredo's love. She is skeptical, believing that "free and aimless I must flutter, from pleasure to pleasure." 

Alfredo Germont (Cody Austin) sings of how happy he has been ever since Violetta told him "I want to live, faithful to you alone!" 

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has implemented new security and bag policies, effective starting October 1, 2016, at the Benedum Center and their other venues.

You can read their Safety & Security statement, which includes an updated list of prohibited items, and read their Bag Policy, on their website.