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La Traviata

Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose in association with the Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Mälmo Opera present Verdi’s La Traviata

Fri 7 & 8 April 2017
Following two London transfers (Soho Theatre and Tricycle Theatre) and an extensive UK tour, Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose present their critically acclaimed, new English version of Verdi’s La Traviata; for their debut performance at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre.

The story of Violetta, a so-called ‘fallen woman’ who sacrifices her own happiness for the sake of her lover’s family and future. Set in Atlantic City, USA, during the 1920s prohibition era of speakeasies and bootlegging, with Violetta’s lover Alfredo a passionate young man whose optimism has been shaken by time at the front in the first world war, Violetta’s protector ‘the Baron’ a gang boss, and Alfredo’s father a crooked politician, this new production reveals the hypocrisy and heartache behind the glittering façade of parties.

Directed, and in a new English translation by OperaUpClose’s Olivier Award-winning Artistic Director, Robin Norton-Hale, with a new orchestration for piano, clarinet and cello by Harry Blake (West Yorkshire Playhouse’s Resident Composer). La Traviata premiered and ran for six-weeks at the King’s Head Theatre in 2013, in 2014 the production transferred for a five-week run at Soho Theatre and in 2015 it ran for another two-weeks at the Tricycle Theatre. The cast includes soprano Elinor Jane Moran and tenor Philip Lee from the company’s Olivier Award-winning La Bohème.

OperaUpClose’s Artistic Director, Robin Norton-Hale: “We are delighted to be making our debut in Exeter. The city has such an exciting and eclectic arts scene, and the Northcott an unparalleled reputation for high-quality, exciting drama. We can’t wait to work with the Theatre, and to meet the people of Exeter and the surrounding area at our performances.”

 

Critical acclaim for the production:

★★★★ THE GUARDIAN ★★★★ EVENING STANDARD ★★★★ THE STAGE

★★★★ WHATSONSTAGE ★★★★ BACHTRACK ★★★★ FRINGE OPERA
-ends-

For further information and to request interviews, review tickets and images, please contact Jenny Hogg on 01392 722 408 or email her.

 

Note to editors
OperaUpClose is an Olivier Award-winning opera company, producing new, unintimidating, affordable and high-quality English chamber re-imaginings of well-known works and premieres of new operas. They have produced 25 operas to date, are an associate company of Soho Theatre and tour their productions nationally and internationally to great acclaim.
For more information on OperaUpClose, please visit: http://www.operaupclose.com/

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