La Traviata

Longing for love

Love. This is the main theme in Verdi’s  “La Traviata”, based on “The Lady of the Camellias” by the younger Alexandre Dumas and inspired by the famous courtesan Marie Duplessis. Paris will be the backdrop for this episode.

Out on its streets, we’ll talk to random people who will tell us about their experiences with love and how it has transformed their lives. Writer and journalist Boris Izaguirre will talk to us about desire and destiny, two of the recurring themes in Verdi’s operas and the basis upon which all melodrama is elaborated.

And in this city’s opera house we interview French baritone Ludovic Tézier who has played the role of Alfredo’s father on several occasions, as well as German soprano Diana Damrau, one of the today’s finest “Traviatas”.

With this opera, Verdi captured the essence of an era, of a city and of a society. And “La Traviata” is a song to life, as well as one of the most beautiful love stories ever told. Through its music and its plot, the composer wanted to let it be known that there is only one important thing in our lives: to love and to be loved.

Excerpts
"LA TRAVIATA" Salzburg Festival ORF/NHK/BR/UNITEL, 2005
"LA TRAVIATA" Teatro Regio di Parma UNITEL, 2012
"LA TRAVIATA" Teatro di San Carlo, Naples UNITEL 2014

GUEST APPEARANCES
Diana Damrau
Ludovic Tézier
Boris Izaguirre