La traviata 2002
The story of Violetta’s passion for Alfredo…
…and her heart-wrenching realization that she must leave him forever.
Synopsis
Act I
The courtesan Violetta Valery is hosting an opulent party for her friends. Gastone introduces Alfredo to Violetta, explaining that Alfredo is a great admirer of hers. Violetta asks the Baron, her current companion, to offer a toast. The Baron refuses so Alfredo leads the party-goers in song. The guests move into the next room, leaving an obviously ailing Violetta alone with Alfredo. Alfredo declares his love for her, but she tells him she will never allow herself to fall in love again. After the party, Violetta is surprised to find herself strongly attracted to Alfredo but she resolves to continue living a life of freedom and pleasure.
Act II
Alfredo and Violetta have been living together happily for three months. Alfredo discovers that Violetta has been selling her possessions in order to finance their household and he leaves for Paris to raise money. Germont, Alfredo’s father, arrives unexpectedly and asks Violetta to end her relationship with Alfredo, since it jeopardizes his daughter’s upcoming marriage. Violetta eventually agrees and decides to return to her life as a courtesan. Alfredo returns and she reassures him of her love, even as she is departing for Paris. She sends a note to Alfredo, informing him that she is returning to the Baron. Germont tries to reassure his distraught son, asking him to return to their home in Provençe, but Alfredo vows revenge and leaves for Paris.
Act III
Violetta’s friend Flora is giving a lively party. Alfredo soon arrives, followed by Violetta with Baron Douphol. The Baron challenges Alfredo to a card game and loses a great deal of money. Alfredo tries to get Violetta to leave the party with him, but she refuses. Angered, Alfredo summons the party guests and throws the money he has won at Violetta’s feet. The Baron challenges Alfredo to a duel.
Act IV
Violetta is mortally ill. Both Germont and Alfredo are now traveling to Paris in order to see her, but Violetta wonders whether she will live until their arrival. Alfredo rushes in and they declare their mutual love. Alfredo begins to describe a new life he has planned for them away from Paris, but it is obvious that Violetta’s death is imminent. Violetta gives her portrait to Alfredo, with the hope that he will find a “gentle maiden” to marry. After a final moment of strength, she dies.
Artists
Sondra Radvanovsky
Soprano
Violetta (July 20 - 29)
Sondra Radvanovsky
Hometown: Berwyn, IL
SFO Debut:
Violetta, La traviata, 2002 (July 20 – 29)
Patricia Racette
Soprano
Violetta (August 2)
Patricia Racette
Hometown: Manchester, NH
SFO Debut:
Emmeline, Emmeline, 1996
Past Seasons:
Kostelnička Buryjovka, Jenůfa, 2019
Minnie, La Fanciulla del West, 2016
Leslie Crosbie, The Letter, 2009
Liù, Turandot, 2005 (August 2 – 27)
Amelia, Simon Boccanegra, 2004 (July 31 – August 28)
Kátya Kabanová, Kátya Kabanová, 2003
Tatyana, Eugene Onegin, 2002
Violetta, La traviata, 2002 (August 2)
Blanche de la Force, Dialogues of the Carmelites, 1999
Violetta, La traviata, 1997
Madeline Bender
Soprano
Violetta (August 7 - 24)
Madeline Bender
Hometown: Harrisonburg, VA
SFO Debut:
Elvira, The Italian Girl in Algiers, 2002
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1998
Past Seasons:
Violetta, La traviata, 2002 (August 7 – 24)
Massimo Giordano
Tenor
Alfredo Germont (July 20-August 12)
Massimo Giordano
Hometown: Pompei, Italy
SFO Debut:
Alfredo, La traviata, 2002 (July 20-August 12)
Raymond Very
Tenor
Alfredo Germont (August 16 - 24)
Raymond Very
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
SFO Debut:
Alfredo, La traviata, 1997
Past Seasons:
Alfredo, La traviata, 2002 (August 16 – 24)
Tamino, The Magic Flute, 1998
Count Elemer, Arabella, 1997
Mark Delavan
Baritone
Giorgio Germont (July 20-August 12)
Mark Delavan
Hometown: Princeton, NJ
SFO Debut:
Altair, The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Past Seasons:
Jack Rance, La Fanciulla del West, 2016
Mandryka, Arabella, 2012
Susan Graham and Friends Gala Concert, 2012
Simon Boccanegra, Simon Boccanegra, 2004 (July 31 -August 28)
Germont, La traviata, 2002 (July 20 – August 12)
William Andrew Stuckey
Baritone
Giorgio Germont (August 16 - 24)
William Andrew Stuckey
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
SFO Debut:
Germont, La traviata, 2002 (August 16 – 24)
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1995, 1996
Past Seasons:
Prince Yamadori, Madame Butterfly, 1996
Adrast, Daphne, 1996
Happy, La fanciulla del West, 1995
Edyta Kulczak
Mezzo-soprano
Flora Bervoix
Edyta Kulczak
Hometown: Siedlce, Poland
Past Seasons:
Flora Bervoix, La traviata, 2002
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2002
Christopher Burchett
Bass
Marquis d'Obigny
Christopher Burchett
Hometown: Pikeville, KY
Past Seasons:
Marquis d’Obigny, La traviata, 2002
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2002
David Adams
Tenor
Gastone
David Adams
Hometown: Haverstraw, NY
SFO Debut:
Gastone, La traviata, 2002
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1997
Ethan Watermeier
Baritone
Baron Douphol
Ethan Watermeier
Hometown: New York, NY
Past Seasons:
Baron Douphol, La traviata, 2002
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2002
Valerian Rumininsky
Bass-baritone
Doctor Grenvil
Valerian Rumininsky
Hometown: Cheektowaga, NY
SFO Debut:
Prince Gremin, Eugene Onegin , 2002 (June 28 – July 6)
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1998
Past Seasons:
Doctor Grenvil, La traviata, 2002
First Soldier, Salome, 1998
Christina Pier
Soprano
Annina
Christina Pier
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
SFO Debut:
Donna Anna, Don Giovanni, 2004
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2002
Past Seasons:
Annina, La traviata, 2002
Darren T. Anderson
Tenor
Giuseppe
Darren T. Anderson
Hometown: Marshall, WI
Past Seasons:
Giuseppe, La traviata, 2002
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2002
Aaron Borst
Bass
A Commissioner
Aaron Borst
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Past Seasons:
A Commissioner, La traviata, 2002
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2001, 2002
Nicolai Janitzky
Baritone
Flora's Servant
Nicolai Janitzky
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Past Seasons:
Eugene Onegin, Eugene Onegin, 2002 (July 6 & 12)
Flora’s Servant, La traviata, 2002
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2002
Lucilene de Geus
Dancer
Lucilene de Geus
Hometown: Ponta Grossa, Brazil
SFO Debut:
La traviata, 2002
Molly Rose
Dancer
Molly Rose
Hometown: Santa Fe, NM
SFO Debut:
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Past Seasons:
La traviata, 2002
Wozzeck, 2001
Mitridate, 2001
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Countess Maritza, 1999
Idomeneo, 1999
La traviata, 1997
Arabella (Choreographer), 1997
Don Giovanni, 1996
Countess Maritza, 1995
Modern Painters, 1995
A Young Dancer, Capriccio, 1993
Die Fledermaus, 1992
Don Giovanni, 1992
The Tempest, 1985
Paco Antonio
Dancer
Paco Antonio
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
SFO Debut:
Eugene Onegin, 2002
Past Seasons:
La traviata, 2002
John Crosby
Conductor
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 (and Director)
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
Bruce Donnell
Director
Bruce Donnell
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
SFO Debut:
Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
Past Seasons:
The Marriage of Figaro, 2013
Salome, 2006
La traviata, 2002
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
La fanciulla del West, 1995
Die Fledermaus, 1992
La fanciulla del West, 1991
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Madame Butterfly, 1987
Rick Fisher
Lighting Designer
Rick Fisher
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
2025 Season:
Rigoletto
SFO Debut:
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Past Seasons:
Eugene Onegin, 2021
The Pearl Fishers, 2019
Madame Butterfly, 2018
Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Rigoletto, 2015
Salome, 2015
The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 2013
The Pearl Fishers, 2012
La bohème, 2011
The Last Savage, 2011
Wozzeck, 2011
Madame Butterfly, 2010
Albert Herring, 2010
Billy Budd, 2008
Radamisto, 2008
La bohème, 2007
Tea: A Mirror of Soul, 2007
Daphne, 2007
Peter Grimes, 2005
La sonnambula, 2004
Intermezzo, 2003
Madame Mao, 2003
La clemenza di Tito, 2002
La Traviata, 2002
Wozzeck, 2001
María Benítez
Choreographer/Dancer
María Benítez
Hometown: Taos, NM
SFO Debut:
Carmen, 1975
Past Seasons:
Carmen, 2006
La traviata, 2002
Carmen, 1999
La traviata, 1997
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
La traviata, 1976
La vida breve, 1975
Robert Wood
Chorus Master
Robert Wood
Hometown: Shaker Heights, OH
SFO Debut:
Simon Boccanegra, 2004
Past Seasons:
Don Giovanni, 2004
Beatrice and Benedict, 2004
La sonnambula, 2004
La traviata 2002
- Tours
- Transportation
- Dining
- Talk