A stylish new production of Verdi’s beloved tearjerker La Traviata kicks off Scottish Opera’s unprecedented 50 date tour across Scotland.

Internationally renowned director Annilese Miskimmon (recently appointed Artistic Director of Danish National Opera) promises a fresh take on the classic tale, transporting the action from the nineteenth century to late 1950s Paris.

Violetta, a famed escort, has fallen desperately in love with the young photographer Alfredo. Giving up her career in the upper class salons of the French capital, she escapes with him to the country to try to build a new life. But as Violetta is driven to sacrifice their relationship for the sake of Alfredo’s family, she becomes caught in a downward spiral, as her health fails and her old life begins to catch up with her. Featuring some of opera’s most famous tunes including drinking song the ‘Brindisi’ and Violetta’s beautiful aria ‘Sempre Libera’, this is Verdi at the height of his powers.

This extensive tour, combined with Opera Highlights and Scottish Opera’s full-scale productions in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen, means that for the 50th anniversary season the Company will be performing within 30 minutes’ drive of 90% of Scotland’s population.

Scottish Opera’s General Director Alex Reedijk said:

‘Touring is always an integral part of Scottish Opera’s year, and during our 50th anniversary season we are even more determined to bring high quality opera to as many of Scotland’s communities as possible. A new La traviata, a show packed full of passion, emotion and great tunes, seems the perfect way to start this momentous tour. We really hope audiences will come out and see the show and help us celebrate the big 5-0!’

This first leg of piano-accompanied performances of La traviata travels to 25 venues between September and November from Galashiels in the south to Shetland in the north with the likes of Largs, Giffnock, Aboyne, St Andrews, Kirkwall, Portree, Easterhouse and Thurso in between.

Sopranos Elin Pritchard and Linda Richardson share the role of La traviata’s heroine Violetta. Young Mexican tenor Jesús Léon makes his Scottish Opera debut as Alfredo, sharing the role with Robyn Lyn Evans (Don José, Carmen, 2010). Aberdeen-born baritone David Stephenson is Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont. Scottish Opera’s Emerging Artists for 2012/13 Katie Grosset, Rónan Busfield and Andrew McTaggart sing the roles of Flora, Gaston and the Marchese d’Obigny. They will be conducted from the piano for all 25 dates by the production’s Music Director Susannah Wapshott.

Source: Scottish Ballet