Tune into WRTI on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. to hear the China National Center for the Performing Arts’ 2023 production of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata. Conductor Yu Long leads the NCPA Orchestra & Chorus in Verdi’s acclaimed tragedy. WRTI will broadcast this recording as a part of the WFMT Opera Series.
La Traviata — which translates to “the fallen woman” — follows Violetta Valery, a woman exhausted by her frantic lifestyle as a courtesan. At a party, she meets Alfredo Germont, a young man who proclaims his love for her. She decides to leave her former life behind to pursue this love, but Alfredo’s father, Giorgio, intends to prevent the union in order to protect the reputation of the Germont family.
This production features soprano Ekaterina Bakanova as the titular Violetta; tenor Shi Yijie as her young lover, Alfredo; and baritone Liao Changyong as Alfredo’s father, Giorgio. Mezzo-soprano Zhang Yajie is Flora Bervoix, tenor Jin Zhengjian is Gastone, bass Mei Jie is Baron Douphol, and bass Zhao Ming is Marchese d’Obigny. Guan Zhijing is Doctor Grenvil, Zhou Yuqian is Annina, Sun Weibo is Domestico, Liang Yufeng is Giuseppe, and Chai Jin is Commissionaro.
Cast:
Ekaterina Bakanova as Violetta Valery
Shi Yijie as Alfredo Germont
Liao Changyong as Giorgio Germont
Zhang Yajie as Flora Bervoix
Jin Zhengjian as Gastone
Mei Jie as Baron Douphol
Zhao Ming as Marchese d'Obigny
Guan Zhijing as Doctor Grenvil
Zhou Yuqian as Annina
Sun Weibo as Domestico
Liang Yufeng as Giuseppe
Chai Jin as Commissionario
Yu Long leads the NCPA Orchestra & Chorus.