Ars Nova presents "La Traviata" Jan. 29 - 31 at the VBC Playhouse!

Ars Nova presents the ever popular opera La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi in the VBC Playhouse January 29 - 31. Directed by Terry Jackson and conducted by Joseph Lee with full orchestra, this tragic three-act opera is loved by all for its powerful musical selections and strong characters.

Performances times are:

• January 29 at 7:30 p.m.
  
  
• January 30 at 7:30 p.m.
  
  
• January 31 at 2:00 p.m.

For more information, call 883-1105 or visit our website at www.arsnovahsv.com

All seats reserved.
Premium Seating (Center section): Adults $26.50, Student/Senior $23.50
All other Sections: Adults $23.50, Student/Senior $19.50
Groups of 10 or more $2.00 discount per ticket

Synopsis

Set in Paris around 1840, La Traviata begins in the house of Violetta Valery, where she is holding a party. Amongst the guests is one Alfredo Germont, who is to put it quite bluntly madly in love with Violetta. So when he is introduced to her, Violetta's usual escort in Baron Douplhol gets just a little jealous. When all the rest of the guests hit the dance floor, Violetta stays away to recover from a dizzy spell where she is confronted by Alfredo who professes his undying love for her. Since Violetta is a woman who has made a habit of enjoying the company of men in rather non-serious liaisons, she does not know how to react to the words of Alfredo. However, she is taken enough to ask him to return the next day.

Act 2 sees the action jumping ahead a few months, with Violetta and Alfredo happily enjoying a relationship in a country home. This idyllic little situation is promptly ruined by the appearance of Alfredo's dear old dad (you can always trust your parents to stuff things up!), who thinks that Alfredo is tossing away the family fortune to keep up this relationship with Violetta. When he discovers that it is actually Violetta who is tossing away her fortune, he concocts a lovely story to implore Violetta to dump Alfredo and let him return to the family. She promptly does this and returns to Paris to attend a party given by Flora. Beside himself with anger, Alfredo follows with the intent of being as vindictive as possible towards Violetta. Lots of nasty things are said and done at Flora's little bash, which sees Alfredo and Violetta completely unreconciled.

Act 3 sees the action return to Violetta's bedroom where she is dying, longing for reconciliation with Alfredo. News arrives that Alfredo is coming as he has found out what is dear old dad has done and is determined to rekindle the flames of love. Naturally they do, except it is all a bit late and the usual melodramatic operatic ending is tossed up for our pleasure.