La traviata

Heartrending story about a ‘material girl’

Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, we are unfortunately forced to cancel all performances of La traviata. Ticket buyers will be notified by email as soon as possible.

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).

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

Tatjana Gürbaca

Regisseur

Andrea Battistoni

Dirigent

Mané Galoyan

Sopraan

George Petean

Bariton

Bogdan Volkov

Tenor

La traviata | Photo: Monika Rittershaus

Free online programme booklet

Click on the link below and receive the free online programme booklet before the premiere. The booklet contains beautiful images and everything you need to know about the music and cast!

Receive the programme booklet

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We regret to inform you that the performances of La traviata have been cancelled. Due to the corona measures that were announced in the press conference on 18 December, we are unfortunately forced to cancel all performances until 14 January.

All ticket buyers have been informed by email.

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5 December

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.

6 December

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

5 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.

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.

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