La traviata | Giuseppe Verdi
Director Jacopo Spirei returns to the Regio to reinterpret another great classic, after the success of Hamlet, and he does so together with set designer Gary McCann and costume designer Giada Masi, winners of the 2025 Abbiati Prize for their work on Thomas’s opera.
Based on The Lady of the Camellias, itself inspired by a true story, La traviata is one of the rare works set in a contemporary context chosen by Verdi, who for this very reason faced heavy censorship at its 1853 premiere. It is the story of Violetta Valéry, a courtesan of the Parisian demi-monde, confronted with a choice: to bind herself to “a serious love” or to remain “forever free.” She will choose love at the cost of a sacrifice greater than she could have imagined. And as her family turns its back on her and a disease consumes her scene after scene, Violetta will continue to love until her death.
She is portrayed by soprano Ekaterina Bakanova, also returning to the Regio after her outstanding performances in Massenet’s Manon and Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites. She is joined by Galeano Salas and Vladimir Stoyanov as Alfredo and Giorgio Germont, both of whom have already performed these roles on major international stages, just as Andrea Battistoni has long distinguished himself in conducting this opera. With unforgettable music that blends feverish bursts of passion with the “sweet and vulgar three-beat rhythm of life,” as Thomas Mann defined the waltz, Verdi reveals the most repugnant face of society and gives voice to a female character who has lost none of her relevance. And to all the marginalized, the outsiders, the lonely—those who suffer “amidst universal rejoicing”—he dedicates one of his most profound meditations.
Lecture-Concert: Wednesday 24 February at 6 pm - Foyer Toro
Melodrama in three acts
Characters and cast
Ekaterina Bakanova
Maria Novella Malfatti
Galeano Salas
Filipe Manu
Vladimir Stoyanov
Vito Priante
Martina Myskohlid
Anastasia Egorova (Regio Ensemble)
Ilaria Monteverdi
Albina Tonkikh (Regio Ensemble)
Christian Collia
Adrian Autard (Regio Ensemble)
Nicolò Ceriani
Eduardo Martínez (Regio Ensemble)
Dohoon Lee (Regio Ensemble)
Adriano Gramigni
Performances
Synopsis
atto
In Violetta Valéry’s home, the beautiful and renowned Parisian courtesan and lover of Baron Douphol, a lively party is in full swing. Viscount Gastone introduces the young Alfredo Germont, his admirer, to the hostess: Violetta proposes a collective toast.
As she is about to move to another room for the dancing, the woman, long ill, is struck by a violent coughing fit and is forced to stop. Alfredo declares his love for her, but she replies that she can offer only friendship; then, moved by the young man’s words, she invites him to return the following day, when the flower she has given him will have withered. The guests leave the party, and Violetta realizes that she is, for the first time, truly in love.
atto
Violetta and Alfredo are now living together in a country villa outside Paris. However, Alfredo learns from the maid Annina that Violetta has had to sell her jewellery to cover their expenses, and he rushes to Paris to obtain money. Left alone, Violetta receives a visit from Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father, who asks her to end the relationship that is driving his son to ruin.
Outraged, Violetta replies that she has sold her jewellery rather than ask money from the man she loves. Germont is struck by her declaration and, changing his tone, asks her to leave Alfredo so as not to jeopardize, through her bad reputation, his daughter’s future marriage. Violetta, against her own wishes, agrees, in order not to ruin Alfredo and his family; Germont is moved.
Alfredo, unaware of everything, returns from Paris and Violetta once again declares her love for him before leaving. A man delivers a letter to Alfredo in which Violetta informs him that she has decided to go away; his father then tries to console him, inviting him to return to Provence with him, but Alfredo becomes jealous upon discovering an invitation to a party from Flora.
When Violetta arrives at the party, accompanied by her former lover Douphol, Alfredo is already at the gaming table, pretending indifference. The young Germont continues to win at cards; when Violetta begs him to leave and tells him, falsely, that she loves the baron, Alfredo calls all the guests and contemptuously throws a purse of money at Violetta’s feet. The old Germont arrives and reproaches him for his behaviour, but does not reveal the truth to him.
atto
Now bedridden with tuberculosis, Violetta knows she is nearing the end. In a letter, the old Germont has written to her that Alfredo, after wounding the baron in a duel, had left France but, having been informed by his father of the truth, is on his way back to her.
Alfredo arrives and throws himself into Violetta’s arms, and together they begin to make plans for the future. Germont also arrives in the meantime, but it is too late: Violetta briefly revives and then dies beside the only man she has truly loved.