DETROIT: Michigan Opera Theatre concludes its 2008 Spring Opera Season, sponsored by Cadillac, with Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, a tragic tale of forbidden love, May 10 – 18, 2008 at the Detroit Opera House. A time-tested classic and one of the world’s most popular operas, La Traviata is a grand tragedy of forbidden love and deception exposed. 

Last performed by Michigan Opera Theatre at the Detroit Opera House in 2001, La Traviata is set in Paris and tells the tale of forbidden love between the courtesan Violetta and her young nobleman suitor Alfredo.  Convinced by Alfredo’s meddling father that she has brought disgrace to his family’s name with her sinful ways, Violetta feels compelled to abandon her love. 

Arturo Chacón-Cruz

Only later, as Violetta is confined to her deathbed, does Alfredo learn that it is his own father who has caused the flower of his love to wilt. The 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, featured La Traviata, and was loosely based on the plot of the opera. 

La Traviata also features the famous duet “Libiamo ne' lieti calici” or “The Drinking Song.”  One of the most well-known fragments of opera ever performed - and an obligatory performance for most tenors - those who have performed it include: Luciano Pavarotti, Giuseppe di Stefano, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras.

The cast and production team of La Traviata features many returning favorites, including Italian maestro Giuliano Carella who will conduct the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra.  Also returning to stage the production is acclaimed Italian stage director Mario Corradi, who was last at the Detroit Opera House last fall directing

Rekindling the chemistry from June 2007’s Romeo and Juliet are Russian-American soprano Dina Kuznetsova as Violetta and Mexican tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz (May 10,14,17) as Alfredo.  Alternating the two lead roles are U.S.-American soprano María Kanyova making her MOT debut as Violetta, paired with U.S.-American tenor Mark Panuccio (May 11m, 16, 18m) in the role of Alfredo.  Italian baritone Marco Di Felice (May 10, 14, 17) makes his MOT debut in the role of Germont, alternating in the role with Mexican baritone Luis Ledesma (May 11m, 16, 18m). 

Tickets for Michigan Opera Theatre’s production of La Traviata at the magnificent Detroit Opera House range from $28-$120, and are available at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, 48226), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464) and online at www.MichiganOpera.org.  Tickets are also available at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (248) 645-6666 or online at www.TicketMaster.com. 
 

Luis Ledesma

Giuseppe Verdi’s

La Traviata

Saturday, May 10, 2008             7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 11, 2008               2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008         7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 16, 2008                 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 17, 2008             7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 18, 2008               2:30 p.m.