Cast
(For biographies and additional info, please see
the links below)
Violetta Valéry, Soprano, a courtesan
Christina Major
Flora Bervoix, Mezzo-Soprano, her friend
Brianne Roney
Annina, Soprano, Violetta's maid
Sarah Hessler
Alfredo Gérmont, Tenor, Violetta's lover
Joseph Muir
Giorgio Gérmont, Baritone, his father
Jan Michael Kliewer
Gastone, Tenor, Viscount de Letorières,
Kevin
Schweigert
Baron Douphol, Baritone, Violetta's protector
Dennis Rupp
Marquis d'Obigny, Bass, Flora's protector
Scott Martinez
Dr. Grenvil, Bass, Violetta’s Physician
Bret Weston
Giuseppe, Tenor
Jacob Troyer
Flora’s Servant & the Messenger, Tenor
Dan Caplinger
A commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, friends of
Violetta and Flora, matadors, picadors and
gypsies, servants of Violetta and Flora, and
maskers
Conductor: Timm Rolek
Production & Stage Director: Douglas Nagel
Sets: Stivanello of New York
Costumes: Utah Opera & Symphony
Sets and costumes underwritten by a gift of
Henrietta Johnstone
Stage Manager, Amy Logan
Lighting Designer: Alex Heyneman
Rimrock Opera Chorus: Amy Logan and Kevin
Schweigert, Chorus Masters
Jessikay Bennion, Dan Caplinger, Kelly Deiling,
Nancy Downing, Karen Evanson, Steven Green,
Shirley Herman, Sarah Hessler, Penni Kelley, Jon
Kohn, Scott Martinez, Alyson Miller, Ashley
Miller, Karen Postema, Brianne Roney, Kirsten
Rose, Bret Weston, Kevin Schweigert, Justine
Summers, Jacob Troyer
Sandi Rabas, Rehearsal Pianist
Waiters: Marks Raschkow & Patrick Brown
Other Biographical Information
Timm Rolek, Conductor
Douglas Nagel, Director
Stage Manager-Amy
Logan
Chorus Masters-Kevin
Schweigert &
Amy Logan
Rehearsal Pianist-Sandi
Rabas
Quick Facts
The opera was first performed in Venice on March
6, 1853. The first audience laughed all the way
through the last act. Verdi wrote "(it) was a
fiasco; it is useless to ask why, it is a fiasco
and that is that."
The first successful performance was a year
later. Since then La Traviata has become one of
the most performed and popular operas ever.
On May 25, 1858, three different opera companies
performed it at the same time, in three
different theaters in London--Her Majesty's,
Covent Garden, and Drury Lane.
"La Traviata" means "the woman who has been led
astray."
The opera is based on the play La Dame aux
camelias (1852) by Alexander Dumas the younger,
which he adapted from his autobiographical novel
of the same name (1848).
The real-life original of Violetta Valery was
Marie Duplessis, who died aged twenty-three. In
Dumas's novel and play, she is called Marguerite
Gautier.
Verdi wanted the opera in contemporary dress,
but because this was considered too shocking it
was originally set in the era of Louis XIV
(1638-1715). The first 'modern' production (i.e.
set in the 1850's) was not until 1906.
Verdi himself was not disturbed by sex outside
marriage. He was with Guiseppina Strepponi for
twelve years before he married her in 1859. She
already had two children by another partner.
Tuberculosis (also called consumption) is still
one of the world's most serious diseases even
though an antibiotic (streptomycin) was
developed in 1944. In England and Wales in 1988
there were 5164 cases, and 478 deaths.
Synopsis 1
Synopsis 2
©2000-2006
Rimrock Opera Company. All rights
reserved
Giuseppe
Verdi