On October 4th at the Opera Theater of Yesul-ui Jeondang
World-renowned maestro Myung-Whun Chung and Italy's La Fenice Orchestra will perform Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece La Traviata in a concert version at the Opera Theater of the Seoul Arts Center on October 4.
The La Fenice Orchestra is the resident ensemble of the La Fenice Theater in Venice, Italy, where La Traviata premiered in 1853. The orchestra also premiered another of Verdi's masterpieces, the opera Rigoletto, in 1851. The La Fenice Theater, which opened in 1792, is a historic venue, and the La Fenice Orchestra will visit Korea for the first time this October. La Fenice means "The Phoenix."
Myung-Whun Chung has had a long-standing relationship with the La Fenice Orchestra, conducting the New Year's concerts for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020.
The opera La Traviata tells a tragic love story set against the backdrop of 19th-century Parisian society, filled with contradictions and prejudices. The title La Traviata means "The Fallen Woman," depicting the sad love story of Violetta, a courtesan (a high-class prostitute serving the wealthy). Violetta, who suffers from tuberculosis, falls in love with the young noble Alfredo, but their love ends in tragedy with Violetta's death.
La Traviata is one of the most beloved operas worldwide, famous especially for the "Brindisi" (Drinking Song) sung by Violetta and Alfredo at the party early in the opera.
The role of Violetta, a noble-hearted woman of sacrificial love, will be performed by Russian-born soprano Olga Peretyatko. Peretyatko debuted on the international opera stage after placing in the Domingo Operalia Competition and has performed at venues such as the Berlin Deutsche Oper and Vienna Staatsoper.
The role of Alfredo will be sung by American tenor John Osborn. Osborn made his debut at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome in 2007 as Arnold in the concert version of the opera William Tell, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. He has also performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Vienna Staatsoper.
The role of Germont, Alfredo's father, will be performed by baritone Kang Hyung-kyu, and other leading Korean vocalists will present a moving ensemble performance.
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