In a triumphant return to her home city, Melbourne-born soprano Stacey Alleaume will make her main-stage debut as Parisian courtesan Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, at Arts Centre Melbourne from 4 May 2022.
Alleaume performed the role to great acclaim in last year’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour when Limelight described her performance as “stunning” and “utterly spine-tingling”.
This celebrated production of La Traviata by Elijah Moshinsky is one of Opera Australia’s most successful featuring lush party scenes in Paris and beautiful autumn afternoons in the countryside.
Featuring an outstanding cast of international and Australian singers, celebrated maestro Renato Palumbo will conduct, leading Orchestra Victoria and the Opera Australia Chorus.
Korean tenor Ho-Yoon Chung, who has given compelling performances with leading opera houses and orchestras around the world, reprises the role of Alfredo, and Italian baritone Mario Cassi, a regular on the stage of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala and opera houses throughout Europe, will perform the role of Giorgio Germont for an Opera Australia role debut.
Lavish sets and exquisite costumes combined with Verdi’s famous score creates an ideal scenario for people to experience opera for the first time, or an opportunity to revisit a favourite with a superb new cast that brings together the best of celebrated audience favourites and exciting new performers.
A tragic love story that inspired pop culture classics Moulin Rouge and Pretty Woman, La Traviata includes the show-stopping aria Sempre libera and the instantly recognisable drinking song, Brindisi.
The story of Verdi’s La Traviata was devastatingly close to his own life. Shortly after the death of his young wife and children, Verdi took up with his own “traviata”, or fallen woman – a celebrated soprano who daringly defied convention in favour of freedom and a life of luxury.
Conductor: Renato Palumbo | Director: Elijah Moshinksy | Featuring: Stacey Alleaume, Ho-Yoon Chung, Mario Cassi, Celeste Haworth, Iain Henderson, Alexander Sefton, Andrew Moran, Richard Anderson, Danita Weatherstone, Jin Tea Kim, Jonathan McCauley, Malcolm Ede, Opera Australia Chorus, Orchestra Victoria | Revival Director: Constantine Costi | Revival Choreographer: Matthew Barclay | Set Designer: Michael Yeargan | Costume Designer: Peter Hall | Lighting Designer: Nigel Levings
La Traviata
State Theatre – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Season: 4 – 28 May 2022
Bookings: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
For more information, visit: www.opera.org.au for details.
Image: Stacey Alleaume stars as Violetta Valery in Verdi’s La Traviata at the Arts Centre Melbourne – courtesy of Opera Australia