MEDIA RELEASE
7 March 2017
Opera Australia announces its first
‘Open Curtain’ night with La Traviata
For the first time, Opera Australia is leaving the curtain open during the remarkable 4-minute
scene change between scenes 1 and 2 of Act II of Verdi’s La Traviata, giving the audience a
glimpse of how the magic really happens in this hugely popular and critically acclaimed
production.
On Tuesday 21 March, the audience will be given a rare treat when more than 30 Opera
Australia and Sydney Opera House crew execute one of the fastest and most complex scene
changes in the Company’s repertoire.
For this production’s entire history, the curtain has always been closed and the audience are
literally left in the dark to ponder the emotionally wrenching ‘country garden scene’ with Violetta
and Alfredo’s father, while the crew work their magic.
When the curtain rises four minutes later the sparse, autumnal garden has been miraculously
transformed into the glamorously, lush and lavish parlour scene teaming with colour and life
and more that 20 performers.
This is a wonderful opportunity for opera buffs and curious theatre-goers to have a glimpse at
the behind-the-scenes action of Moshinsky’s highly acclaimed production of La Traviata, and is
a continuation of Opera Australia’s celebration of its 200th performance at the Sydney Opera
House.
Unrivalled as the world's most popular opera, it includes the show-stopping aria 'Sempre libera',
which is always highly ranked in classical top-tens, as well as the famous drinking song, the
‘Brindisi’.
It’s also famous for its starring role in the hit film Pretty Woman, when Richard Gere took Julia
Roberts to her first opera, La Traviata is the quintessential operatic tragedy.
Lavishly decorated sets and exquisite costumes along with Verdi’s famous, hummable tunes
combine to create the perfect production for those wanting to experience opera for the first
time.
1
Creatives
Conductor Renato Palumbo (until Mar 4)
Anthony Legge
Director Elijah Moshinsky
Revival Director Hugh Halliday
Set Designer Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer Peter J Hall
Lighting Designer Nigel Levings
Cast
Violetta Valéry Emma Matthews
Alfredo Germont Liparit Avetisyan
Giorgio Germont José Carbó
Flora Bervoix Dominica Matthews
Performance information
OPEN CURTAIN Performance on Monday
21 March ONLY
Evenings at 7.30pm
March 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25,
28, 30
April 1
Matinees at 1pm
March 11
Running time
Two hours and fifty minutes including
two intervals.
Performed in Italian with English surtitles.
Gastone John Longmuir
Baron Douphol Tom Hamilton
Bookings
Marquis d'Obigny Samuel Dundas
Doctor Grenvil Richard Anderson
Annina Leah Thomas
Dr Grenvil Gennadi Dubinsky
Guiseppe Jin Tea Kim
Messenger Jonathon McCauley
Servant Malcolm Ede
With the Opera Australia Orchestra and
Opera Australia Chorus
Open Curtain Performance on Monday
21 March ONLY
Tickets:
Adult tickets from $72 (fees may
apply)
Group and concession prices available
for most performances.
Student Rush available for most
performances: $50 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office
(02) 9318 8200
www.opera.org.au
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney
Opera House
Media enquiries
Janet Glover | PR Manager
02 9318 8246 | 0412 601 816
[email protected]