UMS Concert Program, January 9, 1977: Canadian Opera Company -- Lotfi Mansouri

Concert: Eighth
Complete Series: 4031
Power Center For The Performing Arts Ann Arbor, Michigan

The University Musical Society
@@@@The iniviMNilv of!
Presents
Canadian Opera Company
LOTFI MANSOURI, General Director
Sunday, January 9, 1977, at 3:00
Power Center for the Performing Arts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
La Traviata
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
After the play, La Dame aux Camelias, Alexandre Dumas
Timothy Vernon, Conductor Dwight Bennett, Associate Conductor
John Leberg, Director Murray Laufer, Set Designer Andrea Grainger, Costume Designer Sholem Dolgoy, Lighting Designer
CAST
(in order oj appearance)
Violetta Valery.......Lorna CastanedaBarbara Carter
Flora Bervoix.............Darlene Hirst
Doctor Grenvil ............Monte Jaffe
Marquis d'Obigny............Peter Milne
Baron Douphol.............John Nieboer
Gastone, Vicomte de Letorieres........Michele Strano
Alfredo Germont..........Glyn EvansPaul Frey
Annina.............Nancy Hermiston
Giorgio Germont.......Avo KittaskLawrence Cooper
GUILLERMO SlLVAMARIN
Waiter, Friend of Flora.........Douglas McEachen
Friend of Violetta.......... Lois Marsh
The action of the Opera is set in France in 1911;
presented in four acts with intermissions after Acts One and Three.
First performance: March 6, 18S3, Teatro La Fenice, Venice.
Eighth Concert Sixth Annual Choice Series, Power Center Complete Programs 4031
SYNOPSIS
Act One: Paris, 1911. Violetta Valery, a dazzling Parisian courtesan, is aware that her life is being shortened by tuberculosis. At an intimate dinner party she is giving at her home, Alfredo Germont is introduced as one of her admirers by a mutual friend, Gastone. At her request, Alfredo sings a lively drinking song ("Libiamo"), and the other guests enthusiastically join in. Dancing begins in the next room but Yioletta, feeling faint, stays behind. Alfredo urges her to guard her health and declares his love ("Un di felice"). Violetta dismisses it coquettishly but gives him a camellia asking him to return it when it has withered. Together with Alfredo the guests depart. Violetta, now alone, ponders whether she could ever fall in love ("Ah fors' e lui"). Her mood changes as she reaffirms her dedication to a life of pleasure ("Sempre libera"), but Alfredo's voice, heard outside, suggests to us that love will finally triumph.
Act Two: Violetta has abandoned her life of pleasure. She and Alfredo are living in a country estate outside Paris. Alfredo learns that Violetta has been selling her personal belongings to maintain their idyllic retreat. His sense of pride wounded, he leaves for Paris hoping to raise funds of his own. During his absence, his father, Giorgio Germont, visits Violetta, advising her that his son's affair with a woman of her reputation will endanger the happiness of Alfredo's sister who is about to marry into nobility. Germont urges Violetta to give up Alfredo, and brokenheartedly she agrees. Alfredo returns as she is writing a note of farewell. Weeping she passionately sings of her love ("Amami, Alfredo"). She leaves and Alfredo's father reappears. He tries to console his son ("Di Provenza il mar"), but Alfredo, blinded by jealousy, rushes out to follow Violetta, who, on invitation from her friend Flora Bervoix, has left for Paris to resume her former life.
Act Three: A party is in progress at the home of Flora Bervoix. Alfredo arrives, soon followed by Violetta escorted by her former lover, Baron Douprol. Alfredo wins at the gambling tables but Violetta, fearing he might force a duel with Douphol, begs Alfredo to leave the party. Still consumed with jealousy he demands that she tell him whom she loves. She bravely lies, saying it is Douphol. Alfredo summons the guests, denounces Violetta and flings his winnings at her feet, calling on all to witness his repayment of the money she spent on him. Germont arrives and reproaches his son for his heartless behaviour.
Act Four: In her Paris apartment, Violetta is dying. Annina, her confidante, is told by the doctor that Violetta only has a few hours to live. From outside, sounds of the carnival are heard, and Violetta asks Annina to give her remaining money to the poor. Left alone, she rereads a letter from Giorgio Germont which tells her that Alfredo knows of her sacrifice and that they both are coming to beg her forgiveness. Yioletta bids a sorrowful farewell to the joys of life ("Addio del passato"). Alfredo's arrival is announced and the lovers renew their vows of devotion, promising never again to part ("Parigi o cara"). Germont and the doctor enter and moments later Yioletta joyously exclaims that she feels her strength returning. But in that same instant she falls, lifeless.
May Festival
Four concerts -April 27, 28, 29, 30
The Philadelphia Orchestra Eugene Ormandy, Conductor The Festival Chorus Jindrich Rohan, Conductor Gary Graffman, Pianist Norman Carol, Violinist
Jerome Hines, Basso Martina Arroyo, Soprano
Wednesday: AllRachmaninoff: "The Isle of the Dead"; Piano Concerto No. 2 (Graffman); Sym?phonic Dances.
Thursday: Wagner: Overture to Die Meistersinger von Niirnberg; Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor (Carol) ; Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5.
Friday: Smetana: "From Bohemia's Meadows and Groves"; Mussorgsky: Excerpts from Boris Godunov; Boito: Prologue to Mefistofele (Hines and Festival Chorus).
Saturday: Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D major; Barber: Andromache's Farewell; Verdi: "Pace, pace, mio Dio" from La Forza del destino (Arroyo) ; Ravel: "Daphnis et Chloe" Suite No. 2.
Series of four concerts: $38, $28, $20, $16, and $12 ; orders now being accepted.
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
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