NZ Opera presents “La traviata”

NZ Opera presents “La traviata” on Tuesday 19th July 2016, 6.30 p.m. at the Isaac Theatre Royal, 145 Gloucester Street, Christchurch

For ticketing and prices go to www.nzopera.com/2016-operas/la-traviata

From the same brilliant creative team who gave you last year’s Madama Butterfly, this is opera at its most sumptuous and beautiful.  Verdi’s heartbreaking tale sees Violetta forced to sacrifice her happiness and abandon Alfredo, the only man she has truly loved, to save his family from ruin.  Hailed as ‘not to be missed’ by the New Zealand Hearld, this lavish production of La traviata is a stunning feast for the eyes and the ears.  New Zealand soprano Madeleine Pierard is our beautiful but fragile courtesan Violetta with Enea Scala as her love, Alfredo and Phillip Rhodes as his father, Giorgio Germont.

Accompaniedn by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.  Featuring the Freemasons New Zealand Opera Chorus.

Sung in Italian with English subtitles.

A co-production between New Zealand Opera, State Opera of South Australia and Opera Queensland.

Pre-show talks 16, 21, 23 July at 6.30 p.m. and 19 July 5.30 p.m. in the Isaac Theatre Royal auditorium.

Information and Enquiries: NZ Opera Box Office, 0800 696 737

New Zealand Opera’s performance of La traviata in Christchurch at the Issac Theatre Royal on the 19th July offers extra experiences for low-vision patrons who wish to attend, including a pre-performance Touch Tour of the set and Audio Description during the performance.  For this performance there are also half price tickets available in the stalls for low-vision patrons and one companion each in A-, B- and C-reserve seats.  These can be purchased from Ticketek over the phone, online or in person at the Box Office.  When booking you’ll need to either quote or enter the password “audio” to receive the discounted rate.

Touch Tour 4.45pm to 5.15pm starting in the foyer of the Isaac Theatre Royal.  Meet in the foyer of the Isaac Theatre Royal at 4.45p.m. to join a free guided pre-performance Touch Tour of the set.  Through this tour, you’ll be able to explore the set and meet members of the cast prior to the show, touching props and costumes to get an up-close experience of the action that takes place onstage.  Following the tour you are able to pick up your headphones for the Audio Description.

Pre-show talk 5.30pm  to 5.55pm in the Isaac Theatre Royal auditorium.  You can also join us in the Isaac Theatre Royal auditorium for a Pre-Show Talk about the history of the opera and enjoy some stories from behind the scenes.  No registration is required but we suggest you arrive early to be guaranteed a set.

Performance – 6.30pm through your headphones you will hear a carefully-scripted description of what is happening on stage.  In Audio Description the voiceover is live, in order to match exactly what is taking place.  Two specially trained describers sit in a booth with microphones, taking turns to narrate what is taking place on stage, in clear, vivid language.  The voiceovers are very discreet, and the describers do not talk over the singing or detract from the music.

Booking – TicketekHalf price tickets are available in the stalls for low-vision patrons and one companion each in A-, B- and C-reserves.  Quote or enter the password “audio” to receive the discounted rate.  Purchase from Ticketek, Tel 0800 TICKETEK (0800 842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz

CAST

VIOLETTA VALERY – Madeleine Pierard

ALFREDO GERMONT – Enea Scala

GIORGIO GERMONT – Phillip Rhodes

FLORA BERVOIX – Rachelle Pike

ANNINA – Amanda Atlas

GASTONE – Andrew Glover

BARON DOUPHOL – Robert Tucker

MARCHESE D’OBIGNY – James Ioelu

DOCTOR GRENVIL – David Griffiths

GIUSEPPE – Nigel Withington

DOMESTRO DI FLORA – Nigel Salsbury

COMMISSIONARIO – Angus Simmons