La Traviata

Verdi 200 - La Traviata
Opera on 3, Live from the Met

This week's live broadcast from The Metropolitan Opera is Verdi's La Traviata.

Placido Domingo sings the baritone role of Germont for the first time in this production, and Diana Damrau also makes her first appearance as Violetta, alongside Saimir Pirgu as Alfredo.

The courtesan Violetta decides to put her party days behind when she meets Alfredo and settle down with him. But Alfredo's father begs her to leave him for the sake of his family name, and she agrees to sacrifice her love. By the time Alfredo discovers the truth behind her departure and hurries back to her, tuberculosis has set in, and it's too late.

Presented by Margaret Juntwait with guest commentator Ira Siff.

Violetta Valery .....Diana Damrau (soprano)
Alfredo Germont.....Saimir Pirgu (tenor)
Giorgio Germont .....Placido Domingo (baritone)
Flora Bervoix .....Patricia Risley (mezzo-soprano)
Annina.....Maria Zifchak (soprano)
Gastone.....Scott Scully (tenor)
Barone Douphol.....Jason Stearns (baritone)
Marchese d'Obigny.....Kyle Pfortmiller (bass)
Dottore Grenvil.....James Courtney (bass)
Giuseppe.....Juhwan Lee (tenor)
Flora's servant.....Seth Malkin (bass)
Messenger.....Joseph Turi (bass)
A Gentleman.....Paul Corona (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of The Metropolitan Opera, New York
Yannick Nezet-Seguin, conductor.

Also: Audio guide to the opera and some pictures from the production

Broadcast: BBC Radio 3, 30 March 2013
Duration: 3 hours