BWW Preview: LA TRAVIATA at Nickel City Opera
By: Michael Rabice Feb. 15, 2019
After two years of numerous events and black box performances, Buffalo's Nickel City Opera is thrilled to be staging a full scale production of Verdi's 'La Traviata' with orchestra, costumes, sets and stellar cast at the grand theatre at Villa Maria College at 240 Pine Ridge Road, Buffalo, NY 14225. Performances are Friday, May 24th at 8:00pm and Sunday, May 26th at 2:30pm. Also join NCO for the 11th Annual NCO Gala Dinner, Monday, May 13th at The Saturn Club at 6:00pm.
With La Traviata, Nickel City Opera continues to explore works in the canon of Giuseppe Verdi, having already produced his Il Trovatore and Rigoletto. These seminal pieces represent Verdi's "big three," or most famous works of his middle period.
La Traviata, an opera in three acts, with an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave is based on a play adapted from a novel by Alexandre Dumas. Italian for 'The Fallen Woman' or 'The Woman Who Goes Astray', La Traviata is the story of Violetta Valery, a glamorous Parisian courtesan who falls for Alfredo (Mr. Right) but can't decide whether she really wants to settle down. They set up house together in the country, but she is secretly selling her jewels to meet expenses. Violetta eventually sacrifices her own feelings and accepts an invitation from an old friend which takes her back to her old life. Alfredo confronts her new suitor as he learns about the sacrifices she has made and the fact she is dying.
Many may remember seeing glimpses of La Traviata In the 1990 film Pretty Woman, as Violetta's death provides the soundtrack for 'Vivian's' first trip to the opera. La Traviata moves her to tears as Vivian has more than a little in common with opera's tragic Violetta; their similar occupation. Audiences will be thrilled to her such operatic masterpieces as Violetta's dynamic "Sempre Libera" and the beloved drinking song "Libiamo."
NCO's La Traviata strives to bring together the best singers from the opera world in addition to some of Western New York's stellar talent.
LA TRAVIATA CAST
Stephanie Lessard as Violetta
(St. Petersburg Opera Florida/Pacific Opera Victoria)
Jeremy Blossey as Alfredo
(Opera de Quebec, Hawaii Opera Theatre)
Grant Youngblood as Germont
(Metropolitan Opera/BPO/Opera North)
Jessica Best as Flora
(Savannah Opera/Opera Tampa)
Boris Van Druff as Gastone
(Merola Opera/WNY Chamber Orchestra)
Nicholas Kilkenny as D'Obigny
(Eastman Opera Theatre/Geneva Light Opera)
Valerian Ruminski as Dr. Grenvil
(Metropolitan Opera/Pacific Opera Victoria/Calgary Opera)
Karen D'Angelo as Annina
(BPO/Opera Sacra/Rochester Lyric Opera)
Suzanne Fatta as The Commissioner
(BPO/Opera Sacra)
Directed by Ben Spierman
(General Director of Bronx Opera)
Conducted by Matthias Manasi
(Orchestra Camerata Italiana/Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma)
For more information, contact www.nickelcityopera.org.
EVENTS & TICKETS:
11th Annual Nickel City Opera Gala Dinner
The Saturn Club
977 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo
6:00pm Cocktails & Auction
7:00pm-9:00pm Dinner & Singing
Three-Course Dinner & Hors d'oeuvres/Cash Bar
Tickets: $65.00
Ticket Link:
Monday, May 13th, 2019 at 6pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ny--buffalo/nco/?page=1
Spend an evening with NCO! Eat delicious food, listen to talented opera singers, enter to win raffles, browse the silent auction, bingo bags, door prizes and meet interesting people at the 11th Annual NCO Gala Dinner.
Verdi's 'La Traviata'
Villa Maria College Theatre
240 Pine Ridge Road, Buffalo
Tickets Online at Eventbrite: $42 plus $4.39 fee
Friday, May 24th at 8:00pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-traviata-nickel-city-opera-tickets-49356665114?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Sunday, May 26th at 2:30pm.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-traviata-nickel-city-opera-tickets-49357183665?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Tickets In Person at Airport Plaza Jewelers: $42 NO FEES!
4230 Union Road at The Showroom
Mon-Fri 10am-6pm/Sat 10am-4pm
Checks & Cash Only
716.632.6509
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