La traviata 1989
Verdi’s passionate tale of love and loyalty…
…features a beautiful but tragic heroine torn between her exotic Parisian life and the man who has stolen her heart.
Synopsis
Act I
The scene is set in and around Paris in the 1840s.
Despite persistent illness, the courtesan Violetta Valery entertains as usual, insisting that she can only live a life dedicated to pleasure. She is introduced to Alfredo, a young man from the provinces with whom she flirts. Alfredo finds her at a moment when she cannot disguise her illness. Violetta is touched by his concern for her as Alfredo declares his love. Violetta offers friendship and tells him to call on her again when the camelia she gives him has faded. Alfredo leaves, and Violetta is torn between a desire for the romance he offers and her life of pleasure.
Act II
Violetta and Alfredo are now living happily in the country. However, Alfredo learns from Annina, Violetta’s maid, that she has been secretly selling her jewels to support them. Alfredo rushes to Paris to borrow money so that he can reimburse Violetta. The elder Germont finally begs Violetta to break off the liaison because the scandal threatens his daughter’s forthcoming marriage. Reluctantly, Violetta agrees to make the sacrifice demanded of her. When Alfredo returns, Violetta assures him of her love, but then departs, returning to a former client in Paris. The elder Germont returns to console Alfredo, but Alfredo leaves to find Violetta and seek revenge.
Act III
Alfredo and Violetta meet at a gambling party given by another courtesan, Flora. Alfredo antagonizes the Baron for whom he believes Violetta has left him. Violetta begs Alfredo to leave the party, but instead he makes a scene, publicly denouncing and humiliating Violetta. Furiously he casts all his winnings from the gambling table at her feet. She faints in the arms of Flora and Grenvil. Alfredo’s father arrives and reprimands Alfredo for insulting Violetta while the Baron challenges him to a duel.
Act IV
Violetta now lies dying. She re-reads a letter from Germont saying that he has told his son of her sacrifice and that Alfredo will return to beg her forgiveness. When Alfredo arrives, they are joyously reunited and plan to leave Paris so she may recover her health. She tries to dress, but collapses. Violetta recounts the happiness they have experienced and the joy she feels once again, as she dies in Alfredo’s arms.
Artists
Sheri Greenawald
Soprano
Violetta Valery
Sheri Greenawald
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
SFO Debut:
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
Past Seasons:
Countess Maritza, Countess Maritza, 1999
First Lady, The Magic Flute, 1998
Christine, Intermezzo, 1994
Countess, Capriccio, 1993
Rosalinda, Die Fledermaus, 1992
Countess, The Marriage of Figaro, 1991
Violetta, La traviata, 1989
Rosalinda, Die Fledermaus, 1988
Countess, The Marriage of Figaro, 1987 (August 4)
Pamina, The Magic Flute, 1984
Governess, The Turn of the Screw, 1983
Eurydice, Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983 (August 18 – 27)
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Nanetta, Falstaff, 1977
L’Aurora/Semele, L’Egisto, 1976
Richard Drews
Tenor
Alfredo Germont
Richard Drews
Hometown: Hebron, NE
SFO Debut:
Alfredo, La traviata, 1989
Past Seasons:
Rodolfo, La bohème, 1990
Italian Tenor, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Susan Graham
Mezzo-soprano
Flora Bervoix
Susan Graham
Hometown: Roswell, NM
SFO Debut:
Flora Bervoix, La traviata, 1989
Past Seasons:
Geneviève, Pelléas et Mélisande, 2023
Prince Orlovsky, Die Fledermaus, 2017
Clairon, Capriccio, 2016
Grand Duchess, The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 2013
Susan Graham and Friends Gala Concert, 2012
Cecilio, Lucio Silla, 2005
Hélène, La belle Hélène, 2003
Orchestral Concert, 2002
Beatrice, Beatrice and Benedict, 1998
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 1991
Dorabella, Così fan tutte, 1990
Composer, Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
Annina, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Brent Ellis
Baritone
Giorgio Germont
Brent Ellis
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
SFO Debut:
Sharpless, Madame Butterfly, 1972
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1966, 1967
Past Seasons:
Giorgio Germont, La traviata, 1989
Kunrad, Feuersnot, 1988
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
The Confidence Man, The Confidence Man, 1982
Marcello, La bohème, 1981
Germont, La traviata, 1980
Enrico Ashton, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979 (July 5 – August 4)
Germont, La traviata, 1976 (July 30 – August 28)
Ford, Falstaff, 1975
Guglielmo, Così fan tutte, 1975 (August 9 – 22)
Escamillo, Carmen, 1975 (August 2, 15)
Marcello, La bohème, 1974
Ipparco, L’Egisto, 1974
Marcello, La bohème, 1973
Second Nazarene, Salome, 1972
Masetto, Don Giovanni, 1972
Peter Strummer
Bass-baritone
Marquis d'Obigny
Peter Strummer
SFO Debut:
Badger/Parson, The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
Past Seasons:
Marquis d’Obigny, La traviata, 1989
Herr von Faninal, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Darren Keith Woods
Tenor
Gastone
Darren Keith Woods
Hometown: Falfurrias, TX
SFO Debut:
Blind, Die Fledermaus, 1988
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1982, 1983
Past Seasons:
Don Curzio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1995
Joe, La fanciulla del West, 1995
Second Jew, Salome, 1995
Monsieur Taupe, Capriccio, 1993
False Assistant, The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken, 1993
Blind, Die Fledermaus, 1992
Animal Vendor, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
Don Curzio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1991
Joe, La fanciulla del West, 1991
Gastone, La traviata, 1989
Animal Vendor, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Schedel, The Black Mask, 1988
Tulbeck, Feuersnot, 1988
Don Curzio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
James Ramlet
Bass
Doctor Grenvil
James Ramlet
SFO Debut:
Speaker, The Magic Flute, 1986
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1984, 1985
Past Seasons:
Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
Doctor Grenvil, La traviata, 1991
Farfallo, Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Doctor Grenvil, La traviata, 1989
Poschel, Feuersnot, 1988
Sergeant Major, Friedenstag, 1988
Plebanus Wendt, The Black Mask, 1988
Farfallo, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Bonze, Madame Butterfly, 1987
Advertising Editor/Doctor, The Nose, 1987
Prime Minister, The King Goes Forth to France, 1986
Mr. Jones/The Judge, The English Cat, 1985
Master of the Ship, The Tempest, 1985
Second Priest, The Magic Flute, 1984 (July 4 – 30)
Officer 4/Minister 3/Victim 13, We Come to the River, 1984
Daniel Smith
Bass-baritone
Baron Douphol
Daniel Smith
Hometown: Iowa
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1988, 1989, 1990
Past Seasons:
Sergeant, La bohème, 1990
Holofernes’ Captain, Judith, 1990
Baron Douphol, La traviata, 1989
Sylvano, La Calisto, 1989
House Boots, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Knoblochzer, The Black Mask, 1988
Nancy Maultsby
Mezzo-soprano
Annina
Nancy Maultsby
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina
SFO Debut:
Ursula, Beatrice and Benedict, 1998
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1988, 1989
Past Seasons:
Mistress Quickly, Falstaff, 2008
Lu/First Shadow/Tea Ritualist, Tea; A Mirror of Soul, 2007
Anniversary Arias Gala Concert, 2006
Annina, La traviata, 1989
Christian Fletcher
Tenor
Violetta's Servant
Christian Fletcher
Hometown: Massachusetts
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1988, 1989, 1990
Past Seasons:
Parpignol, La bohème, 1990
Brighella, Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
Giuseppe, La traviata, 1989
Major Domo/Waiter, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Don Bravo
Bass-baritone
A Messenger
Don Bravo
Hometown: Massachusetts
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1989, 1990
Past Seasons:
Benoit, La bohème, 1990
A Messenger, La traviata, 1989
Servant/Musician, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Philip Zawisza
Baritone
Flora's Servant
Philip Zawisza
Hometown: Niles, MI
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1989
Past Seasons:
Flora’s Servant, La traviata, 1989
Chao Sun/Fireman, A Night at the Chinese Opera, 1989
Denise Oustalet
Dancer
Denise Oustalet
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
SFO Debut:
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Past Seasons:
Ballet Mistress, Die Fledermaus, 1992
Don Giovanni, 1992
A Flutist, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
La traviata, 1991
La traviata, 1989
Chérubin, 1989
A Flutist, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
The Tempest, 1985
Nancy Waterman
Dancer
Nancy Waterman
SFO Debut:
Ariodante, 1987
Past Seasons:
La traviata, 1989
Michael Lott
Dancer
Michael Lott
SFO Debut:
Die Fledermaus, 1986
Past Seasons:
La traviata,1989
Chérubin, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
Johnson, The Black Mask, 1988
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
John Crosby
Conductor
(June 30 - July 12)
John Crosby
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, 1957
Past Seasons:
La traviata, 2002
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Elektra, 2000
Countess Maritza, 1999
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
Madame Butterfly, 1998
Salome, 1998
La traviata, 1997
Arabella, 1997
Madame Butterfly, 1996
Daphne, 1996
Countess Maritza, 1995
Salome, 1995
Tosca, 1994 (July 1 – 15)
Intermezzo, 1994
La bohème, 1993 (July 2 – 16)
Capriccio, 1993
Die Fledermaus, 1992
Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
La traviata, 1991 (June 28 – July 6)
Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
La bohème, 1990
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
La traviata, 1989 (June 30 – July 12)
Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
Madame Butterfly, 1987
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Violanta, 1984
Intermezzo, 1984
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Arabella, 1983
Die Fledermaus, 1982
Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
La bohème, 1981
Daphne, 1981
La traviata, 1980
Elektra, 1980
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1979
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979
Salome, 1979
Tosca, 1978
Salome, 1978
The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Fedora, 1977
La traviata, 1976
Salome, 1976
Carmen, 1975
La bohème, 1974
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1974
La bohème, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Salome, 1972
Don Carlo, 1971
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1971
La traviata, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
Tosca, 1969
Salome, 1969
Madame Butterfly, 1968
La traviata, 1968
Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Carmen, 1967
La bohème, 1967
Tosca, 1966
Capriccio, 1966
Rigoletto, 1966
La traviata, 1965
Madame Butterfly, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Rigoletto, 1964
Daphne, 1964
La bohème, 1964 (August 22 & 28)
Die Fledermaus, 1963
Madame Butterfly, 1963
Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Salome, 1962
Oedipus Rex, 1962
Perséphone, 1962
Tosca, 1962
Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
La bohème, 1961
The Gondoliers, 1960
Tosca, 1960
Die Fledermaus, 1959
Madame Butterfly, 1959
La bohème, 1958
Wuthering Heights, 1958
Capriccio, 1958
John Fiore
Conductor
(July 21 - August 26)
John Fiore
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
La traviata, 1989
Past Seasons:
Tosca, 2023
Angel Blue in Concert, 2021
Madame Butterfly, 2018
Salome, 2006
Anniversary Arias Gala Concert, 2006
Madame Mao, 2003
La fanciulla del West, 1995
Salome, 1995 (August 18 & 24)
La traviata, 1991 (July 10-August 24)
Così fan tutte, 1990
John Copley
Director
John Copley
Hometown: Birmingham, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Ariodante, 1987
Past Seasons:
Elektra, 2000
Idomeneo, 1999
Madame Butterfly, 1998
Semele, 1997
Madame Butterfly, 1996
Tosca, 1994
La bohème, 1993
Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
La traviata, 1991 (Production)
La bohème, 1990
Così fan tutte, 1990
La traviata, 1989
Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Così fan tutte, 1988
Robert Perdziola
Scenic Designer
Robert Perdziola
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
SFO Debut:
The Nose, 1987 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
Past Seasons:
La traviata, 2002
The Marriage of Figaro, 2000 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
La traviata, 1997
Arabella, 1997
The Marriage of Figaro, 1995 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
La bohème, 1993 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
The Protagonist, 1993 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken, 1993 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1991 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
La traviata, 1991
La bohème, 1990 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
La traviata, 1989
La Calisto, 1989 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
Michael Stennett
Costume Designer
Michael Stennett
Hometown: Farnborough, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Ariodante, 1987
Past Seasons:
Idomeneo, 1999 (Women’s principal costumes)
Madame Butterfly, 1996
Tosca, 1994
La traviata, 1991
Così fan tutte, 1990
La traviata, 1989
Così fan tutte, 1988
Craig Miller
Lighting Designer
Craig Miller
Hometown: Hugoton, KS
SFO Debut:
The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1979
Past Seasons:
Don Giovanni, 1996
La fanciulla del West, 1995
La bohème, 1993
The Magic Flute, 1993
Capriccio, 1993
The Protagonist, 1993
The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken, 1993
Die Fledermaus, 1992
Don Giovanni, 1992
The Beggar’s Opera, 1992
Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
The Sorrows of Young Werther, 1992
La traviata, 1991
The Marriage of Figaro, 1991
La fanciulla de West, 1991
Oedipus, 1991
La bohème, 1990
Così fan tutte, 1990
Orfeo ed Euridice, 1990
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
Judith, 1990
La traviata, 1989
La Calisto, 1989
Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
A Night at the Chinese Opera, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Così fan tutte, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
The Black Mask, 1988
Madame Butterfly, 1987
The Marriage of Figaro, 1988
Ariodante, 1988
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
The Nose, 1987
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Magic Flute, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
The King Goes Forth to France,1986
The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
The English Cat, 1985
The Tempest, 1985
A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Violanta, 1984
The Magic Flute, 1984
Intermezzo, 1984
We Come to the River, 1984
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Don Pasquale, 1983
Arabella, 1983
L’Orione, 1983
The Turn of the Screw, 1983
Die Fledermaus, 1982
The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
The Confidence Man, 1982
La bohème, 1981
Daphne, 1981
The Rake’s Progress, 1981
News of the Day, 1981
La traviata, 1980
The Magic Flute, 1980
Erwartung, 1980
Von Heute auf Morgan, 1980
Elektra, 1980
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979
The Magic Flute, 1979
Lulu, 1979
Salome, 1979
Rodney Griffin
Choreographer
Rodney Griffin
SFO Debut:
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Past Seasons:
Die Fledermaus, 1992
La traviata, 1991
The Marriage of Figaro, 1991
La fanciulla del West, 1991
Oedipus, 1991
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
La traviata, 1989
Chérubin, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
The Tempest, 1985
Gary Wedow
Chorus Master
Gary Wedow
Hometown: La Porte, IN
SFO Debut:
1983 Season
Past Seasons:
1998 Season
1997 Season
1996 Season
1995 Season
1994 Season
1993 Season
1992 Season
1991 Season
1990 Season
1989 Season
1988 Season
1987 Season
1986 Season
1985 Season
1984 Season
La traviata 1989
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