The Best of La Traviata

Verdi’s masterpiece about the passionate yet terminally ill Violetta has long been one of the world’s most beloved operas. With its stunning tableaux, exquisite orchestral music, and iconic arias, the story takes us on a profound journey through a woman’s struggle to break free from societal expectations—at a time when such defiance was far from accepted. Delve into the best moments of La Traviata in this concert, when Tivoli Copenhagen Phil and three excellent soloists, with help from the always engaging Mathias Hammer, brings Violetta momentarily to life.

This operatic concert distils Verdi’s tragic tale into an intense and deeply moving performance, featuring only the three principal characters: Violetta, Alfredo, and his father, Giorgio. Together, they embody the heart of this poignant love story, which concludes in devastating tragedy. A timeless masterpiece, La traviata explores the depths of human emotion, posing a profound question: Is sacrificing your own happiness for another person ever justified? Violetta, a courtesan with a noble heart, chooses to give up her unexpected joy in a quiet country home to preserve the honour of Alfredo’s family.

With this story, Verdi challenges societal perceptions of a free-thinking, free-loving woman, igniting controversy in his own time. The opera was criticised not only for its portrayal of sexual morality but also because its real-life inspiration, Paris’s most renowned courtesan, Marie Duplessis, had died just a few years prior to its premiere. Despite this, the musical brilliance of La traviata has never been questioned – and rightly so. From the opening, ethereal chords of the overture played by the high strings, Verdi holds us firmly in his musical grip. 
A concert performance like this allows us to focus entirely on Verdi’s extraordinary orchestration, immersing ourselves in the opulent beauty crafted by one of opera’s greatest masters. 

While this concert may not feature a grand chorus, dazzling dance sequences, or lavish stage design, we are confident that, with three exceptional soloists and the expert guidance of Mathias Hammer, the poignant beauty of this tragic story will shine through. Ultimately, the graceful and resilient Violetta succumbs to tuberculosis, passing away in the arms of her beloved Alfredo, just moments after they are reunited in love and forgiveness. 

Get ready to shed a tear and feel the goosebumps as Tivoli brings Violetta’s heartrending tale vividly to life once more. 

Program and cast

Duration: 2 hours including interval

Language, host: Danish

Orchestra: Tivoli Copenhagen Phil

Conductor: Henrik Schaefer

Soloists: Serena Sáenz, sopran
Leonardo Capalbo, tenor
Mattia Olivieri, baryton

Host: Mathias Hammer

Programme

Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901): Excerpts from La Traviata (1853)