March 13, 2022 2:30 pm

Verdi’s La Traviata tells the story of the tragic love between the courtesan Violetta and the romantic Alfredo Germont. This collaboration with the South Bend Lyric Opera and South Bend Chamber Singers is a unique performance you don’t want to miss.

About the performance

The third installment of the June H. Edwards Mosaic Series will be the immensely popular and frequently performed La Traviata. Giuseppe Verdi’s modern classic will be presented as a first-time collaboration between the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the South Bend Lyric Opera (SBLO), under the masterful direction of Maestro Alastair Willis. In addition, The Symphony and the SBLO will also partner with the South Bend Chamber Singers, one of the best professional choirs in the region, skillfully led by Dr. Nancy Menk.

La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi has an Italian libretto, based on Alexandre Dumas’ La Dame Aux Camélias (1852), and may be the most performed opera in the world. It is an intimate, domestic opera that was originally staged in modern dress, blurring the lines between audiences and onstage characters. In composing the work, Verdi used musical styles typically reserved for kings, queens, and heroes to portray regular people. He elevated the lives of normal characters, including everyday ugliness (i.e. prostitution) and raw emotion, all while pushing the boundaries of opera as a form. However, La Traviata is not a calcified museum piece because its themes of love, sacrifice, disease and misfortune are still painfully with us. Because audience members might still mirror the plight of its characters, it is an immersive, rather than an escapist, work of art.

For the first time in decades, this production will bring together three professional performing arts groups from the region. The collaboration will yield an exceptionally local creation, broadening participation and cooperation to offer South Bend audiences an opera of superior quality and expression. This unique production will be directed by Carl Ratner, whose prodigious career includes work at The Metropolitan Opera (NY), The Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow) and Covent Garden (London).

Program

Act I

A party is taking place at the home of Violetta Valéry, a beautiful Parisian woman. Gastone arrives and presents a friend, Alfredo Germont, telling Violetta that Alfredo has long been a silent admirer and had even called daily during her illness to ask about her. Baron Douphol, one of Violetta’s “protectors”, is angered by the conversation and refuses to propose a toast when invited to by Gastone. Alfredo then accepts the invitation, and sings an impassioned tribute to beauty and love. Later, as the others go to another room to dance, Violetta is overcome by a fainting spell. Alfredo stays behind and confesses that he has been in love with her for a year. Violetta offers him friendship instead of love and gives him a flower, bidding him return when it is withered. Alfredo joyously accepts and bids her goodnight. When her guests have gone, Violetta thoughtfully muses on Alfredo’s proffered love, but finally returns to her true character and declares that she must remain forever free to pass from pleasure to pleasure.

Act II

Violetta is living with Alfredo in the country, having abandoned her life of ease and luxury in Paris. Annina, Violetta’s maid and confidante, enters and tells Alfredo she has been sent to arrange the sale of Violetta’s property, which must be sold to pay their debts. Alfredo suddenly understands the sacrifices that Violetta has made in order to live with him and leaves for Paris, determined not to be shamed by her sacrifice. Violetta enters. She receives an unexpected visitor, Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father, who declares that Alfredo is ruining himself to keep her as his mistress. When Germont comments on the luxury of the country retreat, Violetta shows him the papers which have been prepared for the sale of all her possessions. He asks her to give up Alfredo, explaining that by continuing the liaison, Alfredo is endangering the impending marriage of his younger sister. Germont’s insistence finally convinces Violetta, who agrees to leave Alfredo forever. She is preparing a letter as Alfredo returns. Germont has gone out into the garden. Alfredo, not realizing his father has already arrived, explains that Germont has written him a severe letter but that he feels sure he will approve of Violetta as soon as he sees her. Pretending to leave so as not to be present during the meeting of father and son, Violetta goes out. A messenger returns with her letter of farewell. Alfredo is stricken with grief at the loss of Violetta, and when his father tries to persuade him to return to his family, Alfredo refuses. Finding on the table an invitation which Flora had sent Violetta, he resolves to go to Flora’s in the hope of finding Violetta.

Intermission

Act III

Alfredo arrives at Flora’s house as the guests are beginning to gamble. Then Violetta arrives, escorted by Baron Douphol. Alfredo is incredibly lucky at cards, and explains that he who is unlucky in love is lucky at cards. The baron, incensed at Alfredo’s insolence, challenges him to play. Alfredo accepts and beats the Baron repeatedly at high stakes. When all the others go to dinner, Violetta remains behind to entreat Alfredo to leave lest the Baron challenge him to a duel. Alfredo answers that he will leave, but only if she accompanies him. Unwilling to reveal that she must break off with him because of his father, Violetta declares that she is in love with the Baron. Alfredo, in a frenzy of jealousy, calls all the guests into the room and announces that without knowing it he has been living with Violetta at great sacrifice on her part. In a rage, he throws money at her feet and calls upon all to witness that he has paid her in full. Germont has entered just in time to witness Alfredo’s dishonorable behavior and joins the others in reviling him for his conduct. Alfredo, realizing the lengths to which his jealousy has carried him, is contrite, but realizes that he is helpless to make amends. The Baron assures Alfredo that he must answer for the insult on the field of honor.

Act IV

Violetta’s illness has brought her to the point of death. Her physician, Doctor Grenvil, calling on her at home, examines her and tells Annina that she has but a few hours to live. Violetta reads a letter from the elder Germont, in which she learns that Alfredo has gone abroad after wounding the Baron in a duel. He knows now of the great sacrifice Violetta has made and is returning to beg her forgiveness. Alfredo returns and the two are reunited at last. But it is too late. Violetta, comforted by the presence of the man whom she has so tragically loved, dies in his arms.

Artists

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Read more about the South Bend Lyric Opera here!

Read more about the South Bend Chamber Singers here!

Series Sponsor

The South Bend Symphony Orchestra’s
June H. Edwards Mosaic Series is generously
sponsored by Jack M. Champaigne

This performance is sponsored by
Kahn, Ruthrauff & Associates

Indiana Trust Wealth Management

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