The Santa Fe Opera

Skip to main content Skip to search
1962 production photo from La traviata

La traviata 1962

July 18 - August 29, 1962

The elegant world of the Parisian demimonde…

…is the backdrop for Verdi’s passionate story of honor and loyalty, as a beautiful courtesan sacrifices her happiness for true love.

Music By
Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto By
Francesco Maria Piave
English Translation By
Ruth and Thomas Martin

Synopsis

Act I

The opera opens on a party in the salon of Violetta Valery, a young courtesan of great beauty. Among the guests is Alfredo Germont, who proposes a toast to the gaiety of the affair. The guests swirl off to another room to dance, but Violetta, seized with a coughing fit, sinks to a sofa. Alfredo comes to her, and tells her that, although he has seen her only from a distance, he is seriously in love with her. Violetta advises him to forget about her, but finally promises to see him the next day.

When the guests are gone, Violetta remembers Alfredo, and asks herself if this young man might be the one true love in her life of many affairs. But no, she reminds herself, such love is not for her. She must remain forever free.

Artists

Maria di Gerlando

Soprano

Violetta

John McCollum

Tenor

Alfredo

Theodor Uppman

Baritone

Germont

Marlena Kleinman

Mezzo-soprano

Flora

Lawrence Boyll

Bass

Baron Duphol

Catherine Owens

Soprano

Annina

Gerald Landon

Tenor

Gastone

John West

Tenor

Marquis d'Obigny

Therman Bailey

Bass

Dr. Grenvil

Martin Eugene Allen

Tenor

Giuseppe

Joseph Galiano

Bass

Flora's Servant

Guy Waid

Tenor

A Messenger

Nancy King

Dancer

Premiere Danseuse

Howard Sayette

Dancer

Premier Danseur

Robert Baustian

Conductor

Ed Purrington

Director

Henry Heymann

Designer

Scenery & Costumes

Louise Guthman

Lighting Designer

John Moriarty

Chorus Master