Dates

This production was to be seen in Dec 2021

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Auditorium

Running time

2:45

Tickets

Not available

La traviata

Heartrending story about a ‘material girl’

With his La Traviata, Giuseppe Verdi not only told the story of a terminally ill courtesan. He also confronted his contemporaries with their own hypocritical morals. In her forceful production, German director Tatjana Gürbaca does the same.

Heartrending story about a ‘material girl’

Based on the 1848 novel La Dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas, La Traviata was Verdi’s first opera to revolve around current issues. Marie Duplessis, the Parisian courtesan on whom the novel’s protagonist was modelled, had died a year before. She had been a cult figure, embodying success and glamour until her tragic death.

 

Long-awaited debut

La Traviata is the long-awaited DNO debut of Tatjana Gürbaca, one of today’s most exciting opera directors. In her production, Violetta Valéry, initially a carefree ‘material girl’, becomes increasingly entangled in the capitalistic system that eventually crushes her. Gürbaca strips the opera of all its unnecessary decorations and lays bare the unrelenting hardness of the human condition against the background of a minimalistic décor.

 

Up-and-coming singers and a Verdi veteran

Violetta Valéry’s role calls for an exceptionally versatile singer and actress. It is said with good reason that ideally the role should be performed by three different sopranos, one for each act. DNO has engaged an up-and-coming singer for the role, the young Armenian soprano, Mané Galoyan, whose performance of the role in Glyndebourne was a great success.

The Ukrainian tenor Bogdan Volkov, winner of the World Opera Competition, Operalia in 2016, plays her lover, Alfredo Germont. The trio of lead roles is completed by Verdi veteran George Petean, known for his impressive portrayal of Nabucco with DNO.

Musical direction is in the hands of the energetic and passionate Italian conductor Andrea Battistoni, who has already proven to be a master of his homeland’s repertoire in his previous collaborations with DNO, La bohème (2017) and Petite messe solennelle (2021).

Dutch National Opera will perform La traviata again in season 2023-2024. More information and tickets can be found via the link below:

 

Performance information

Libretto  Francesco Maria Piave



Musical direction  Andrea Battistoni

Direction  Tatjana Gürbaca

Set design  Henrik Ahr

Costumes  Barbara Drosihn

Lighting design  Stefan Bolliger  

Dramaturgy  Bettina Auer 

Violetta Valéry  Mané Galoyan

Alfredo Germont  Bogdan Volkov, Pene Pati*

Giorgio Germont  George Petean

Flora Bervoix  Maya Gour**

Annina  Inna Demenkova**

Gastone de Letorières  Ian Castro**

Barone Douphol  Roger Smeets

Marchese d'Obigny  Michael Wilmering

Dottore Grenvil Carlo Cigni

* Bogdan Volkov sings the performances on 4, 20, 23 and 26 December, Pene Pati sings the performances on 8, 12 and 17 December

** Dutch National Opera Studio 

Orchestra  Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest (Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra)

Choir  Dutch National Opera Choir

Chorus Master  Mark Biggins

Original production by Den Norske Opera, Oslo

Sung in Italian

La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
La traviata
La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus
In the media
Rave reviews

The chorus, already one of the best in the world, is singing and acting exceptionally well, switching from one mood to another in the blink of an eye.

5 December

The house debut of Armenian soprano Mané Galoyan is a triumph.

6 December

The smaller roles were excellently performed as well, with Maya Gour as Flora, Inna Demenkova as Annina and Ian Castro as Gastone (all three talents from the DNO Studio) and with a strong role for the experienced Roger Smeets as Baron Douphol.

5 December

[Conductor Battistoni spins] together with the beautifully playing Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, pure poetry.

5 December

Alfredo is beautifully voiced and bodied by tenor Bogdan Volkov, who makes a sensational debut with DNO.

5 December
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

For over 35 years, The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra have been Dutch National Opera's primary orchestral partners. The orchestra is regarded as one of the best opera orchestras in the world. In September 2021, Lorenzo Viotti will become the chief conductor of both the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and Dutch National Opera.

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

In addition to its opera tasks, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is a regular performer in The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The orchestra works with internationally renowned guest conductors and soloists, as well as representatives of a new generation of top musicians. The orchestra makes classical music accessible to everyone who is open to it: not only on the big stages, but also in community centres, schools and hospitals. In this way, the orchestra provides the finest and best music experience for both classical connoisseurs and new listeners.

With its hospitable home auditoriu, the NedPhO Dome in Amsterdam's 'Indische buurt', the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is right at the heart of society. Every year, the Orchestra organizes around two hundred activities for music education, neighbourhood participation and talent development.

www.orkest.nl

Trailer La traviata

Trailer La traviata

Podcast La Traviata

By: Laura Roling in conversation with Tatjana Gürbaca

Scene
Rehearsal La traviata | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Dance of joy
Rehearsal | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Embracing
Rehearsal | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Outburst
Rehearsal | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Scene
Rehearsal | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Scene
Rehearsal | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Scene
Rehearsal | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Scene
Rehearsal | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Scene
Rehearsal | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Scene
Rehearsal | Photo: Milagro Elstak

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