Verdi – La Traviata (ROH, Oropesa) 320 kbps .mp3

Lisette Oropesa stars in Verdi's tragic masterpiece at the Royal Opera House, with Liparit Avetisyan and Christian Gerhaher. Presented by Georgia Mann.

La Traviata is so well known and loved these days that it's easy to forget how revolutionary it was: an opera telling the real-life story of a Parisian courtesan only a few years after her death. Verdi wanted it staged in contemporary dress, but that was a step too far for the operatic establishment of his day. Richard Eyre's perennial Royal Opera production is firmly set in Verdi's time, and this revival is illuminated by three star principals making their UK debuts in the roles. Cuban-American soprano Lisette Oropesa sings the courtesan Violetta Valéry who's made her way from poverty to the highest echelons of society - but finds her life empty and fears she has a terminal illness. The young poet Alfredo Germont, sung by Armenian tenor Liparit Avetisyan, offers her the chance of true love and happiness, however short-lived. But he's underestimated the horrified opposition of his father Giorgio - German baritone Christian Gerhaher singing the role for the very first time.




Violetta Valéry ..... Lisette Oropesa (soprano)
Alfredo Germont ..... Liparit Avetisyan (tenor)
Giorgio Germont ..... Christian Gerhaher (baritone)
Flora, Violetta's friend ..... Stephanie Wake-Edwards (mezzo-soprano)
Annina, Violetta's maid ..... Renata Skarelyte (mezzo-soprano)
Gastone, Vicomte de Letorières ..... Egor Zhuravskii (tenor)
Doctor Grenvil ..... Blaise Malaba (bass)
Baron Douphol ..... Yuriy Yurchuk (baritone)
Marquis D'Obigny ..... Jeremy White (bass)
Giuseppe ..... Andrew Macnair (tenor)
Messenger ..... Dominic Barrand (bass-baritone)
Servant ..... Thomas Barnard (bass-baritone)

Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor Antonello Manacorda

Broadcast: 27 November 2021, BBC Radio 3