Natalie Dessay to put on the red dress in La Traviata

Media Release: For immediate release

Natalie Dessay to put on the red dress in Met Opera’s production of Verdi’s La Traviata

“…an involving and theatrically daring production that belongs at the Met…a showcase for courageous singers.”

– The New York Times

French soprano Natalie Dessay, one of the world’s greatest singing actresses and the star of La Fille du Régiment, La Sonnambula, and Lucia di Lammermoor, will sing the iconic role of Violetta for the first time in the Met Opera in HD’s production of La Traviata.

La Traviata will screen in 30 cinemas around New Zealand for a limited season from 17 May.

Verdi’s opera, a timeless story of love and sacrifice, is one of the most popular in history and has never before been transmitted as part of the Met Opera Live in HD series.

The score features numerous famous compositions, including Violetta’s arias “Sempre libera” and “Addio del passato,” Germont’s aria “Di Provenza il mar,” and the famous drinking song from Act 1, “Libiamo nel’ieti calici.”

Willy Decker’s staging, a hit when it premiered at the Met last season, uses highly theatrical effects—including all-black costumes with a single red party dress for Violetta and an omnipresent clock ticking away the remaining hours of Violetta’s life—to aid the opera’s narration.

Matthew Polenzani, who starred in the new production premiere of Decker’s staging, repeats his acclaimed performance as Alfredo, while Dmitri Hvorostovsky, one of the world’s most famous Verdi baritones, sings the role of Giorgio Germont.

Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi leads his fifth Live in HD transmissions of the season, following Siegfried, Götterdämmerung, Don Giovanni, and Manon.

La Traviata screens in cinemas around New Zealand from 17 May. For complete information on locations and tickets, visit www.nzmetopera.com, www.rialtodistribution.com or contact your local cinema. Tickets are $28 & $33 and are on sale in cinemas now. Cinemas participating are listed below. Running time: Approx. 187 minutes including an intermission.

ENDS

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