Bregenz Festival - A Summer Night by the Lake La Traviata on the Floating Stage

INCLUDED

• Travel by Car Rouge, 2+1 seating
• Music tour manager from/to Switzerland
• Accommodation in a carefully selected 5* hotel
• 1 x B&B (room/breakfast buffet)
• 1 x festival menu
• Drinks with the menu
• House ticket, category 1
• Boat transfer to the festival stage
• Glass of sparkling wine on board
• Seat cushion per person
• Car Rouge audio system

Hotels

Hotel Bayerischer Hof - Lindau

About the Opera

Giuseppe Verdi: "La Traviata" – "A quell amor ch'è palpito!"

The starting point for Verdi's opera is the French novel "La dame aux camélias" by Alexandre Dumas fils, which was turned into a successful play. The Italian librettist Francesco Maria Piave, who had already written the libretti for Verdi from "Ernani" to "Rigoletto", also provided the composer with the literary source for the three-act opera "La Traviata", which Verdi completed in 45 days. It received its premiere on 6 March 1853 at the Teatro La Fenice. However, it was only a revision and a new production on 6 May 1854 at Venice's Teatro San Benedetto that brought the opera its definitive breakthrough.

Violetta surrenders herself to the pleasure of a party, easing her suffering. She dines amid friends: Vicomte Gaston, Alfredo Germont, Flora Bervoix, Baron Douphol. Alfredo sings the Brindisi drinking song: "Libiamo ne'lieti calici". They waltz. Violetta turns pale and sees herself in the mirror: "Oh qual pallor!" She asks Alfredo bluntly: "Da molto è che mi amate?" In the duet "Un di felice" the two confess their love to each other. She hands him a camellia from her breast, which he is to return only when it has withered. Alfredo's words of love about the "palpito dell'universo intero" touch her heart: "E strano!" She speaks of her youthful longing for a man of the future. Yet she wants to remain free and enjoy the pleasures of the moment.

In a country house, Alfredo raves about Violetta, who has avoided the lavish parties in the city for three months because of him. Worried, the maid Annina reports that Violetta intends to sell her possessions, horses and carriages. She needs "mille luigi". Flora writes to Violetta at her new refuge and invites her to the party in Paris. Germont, Alfredo's father, visits her and learns of the letter about her plans to sell. He demands "un sacrificio", a sacrifice. "Pura siccome un angelo". He hints at a relationship of his daughter, who can only marry if Alfredo returns to the bosom of the family and saves its honour. He demands that Violetta give up Alfredo. Almost cynically, he explains to her the advantages of a separation and that heaven has not blessed the union. Her hope fades that as a fallen woman, a "traviata", she might one day be restored. She calls upon the pure maiden: "Dite alla giovine si bella e pura". Germont comforts her: "Piangi, o misera!" She is to tell Alfredo that she does not love him! Violetta throws herself on Germont's chest: "Qual figlia m'abbracciate, forte cosi sarò". She is prepared to die as a sacrifice to her love: "Conoscva il sacrificio".

Father and son fall into each other's arms. Germont reminds him of happier times and of the voice of honour ("la voce dell'onor"). Alfredo swears revenge at Flora's party. The Marquis D'Obigny spreads the rumour that Alfredo and Violetta have separated. Enter the "Cori di Zingarelle e di Mattadori spagnoli". Gaston sings the song of the bullfighter Piquillo. Alfredo sees Violetta on the arm of Baron Douphol. Gambling begins. 100 louis on the right and on the left. Alfredo wins. Violetta warns Alfredo to leave. Douphol is the challenger. She has sworn an oath to him to avoid Alfredo: "Di fuggirti un giuramento sacro io fea". She pretends to love Douphol. Alfredo throws his purse at her feet: love for payment! "Gelosa smania". Raging jealousy drives him to it. Only now does she confess that she will love Alfredo until death!

Doctor Grenvil takes her pulse. Her consumption leaves her only a few hours to live. In a lecturing tone she reads Germont's letter about the Baron's wounding in the duel. She takes leave of life. The Bacchanal of the "bue grasso" breaks in. Alfredo is with Violetta. He wants to carry her away from Paris. Germont repents. Her last avowal: "Se una pudica vergine degli anni suoi nel fiore a te donasse il core sposa ti sia..io vo..". It is accomplished. She dies in his arms.