La Traviata

Approximate running time 2 hrs. 37 min.

Soprano Diana Damrau tackles Verdi’s eternal heroine for the first time anywhere in Willy Decker’s inspiring production. Plácido Domingo expands his repertoire to sing the baritone role of Germont, Violetta’s tormentor. Tenor Saimir Pirgu sings Alfredo, her naïve lover. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

Original production of the Salzburger Festspiele; with thanks to De Nederlandse opera

“The near-capacity crowd leaped to their feet in one of the more heartfelt and sustained standing ovations in recent memory. Damrau deserved every bit of it. Her singing from start to finish was nothing short of sensational.”

“Damrau's triumph, coming on the heels of her splendid Gilda in Verdi's "Rigoletto" last month, solidifies her position as one of the Met's most important stars.”

“Albanian tenor Saimir Pirgu looked every inch the ardent suitor and sounded like one, too…his voice took on a lovely bloom that meshed beautifully with Damrau's vibrant sound.”

As Germont, Plácido Domingo “looked smashing, tall and dignified with a shock of white hair, and his portrayal of the stern father was unusually tender and melancholy” (AP).

Synopsis