Cincinnati Opera Presents 'La Traviata'

July 27th 2008

Sunday, 3:00 PM

Verdi's ever-popular opera, La Traviata, is based on Alexandre Dumas's play, La Dame aux Camélias. The opera tells the story of a Parisian courtesan, Violetta, who falls in love with Alfredo, a young man from a prominent family. They make a new life, sacrificing all to be together, until his family's disapproval of their union forces them apart. In the end, the couple reunites only to be separated again-this time by Violetta's untimely death from consumption. La Traviata was last performed in 2003.

Internationally renowned leading soprano Hei-Kyung Hong returns to Cincinnati after portraying Juliette in Romeo and Juliette (1994) to sing the role of Violetta. "Among the company's most beautiful and appealing stage figures" (Opera News), Ms. Hong recently performed the role at the Met and was "greeted by a deserved standing ovation" (Opera News).

Acclaimed tenor Richard Leech brings his "first-class voice, looks, acting talent, and charisma" (Opera News) to sing the role of Alfredo. Mr. Leech most recently sang the title role in Faust where he "was warm, lyrical and expressive, yet always controlled" (Cincinnati Post).

French baritone Philippe Rouillon returns to sings the role of Giorgio. Mr. Rouillon thrilled audiences in his 2006 Cincinnati Opera debut when he "projected one of the most formidable voices ever heard on this stage" (Cincinnati Enquirer) as the four villains in The Tales of Hoffmann. Edoardo Müller will conduct.