Introducing...

La traviata

We take a look at an all-time opera classic.

We take a look at Verdi’s timeless classic – a story full of glamour, heartbreak and passion.

Get a taste of the production in this trailer:

A brief introduction

This bittersweet love story is one of the most frequently performed operas in the world – a true classic that has stood the test of time.

Parisian party girl Violetta is determined to leave her scandalous past behind her. She seizes the chance for a new life with the adoring young Alfredo, but when his disapproving father appears on the scene, Violetta is forced to make an impossible choice between duty and desire.

From buzzing crowd scenes to tender exchanges and beautiful solo moments, this is an emotional roller-coaster that will thrill you one minute, and break your heart the next.

Why not to miss it

With its well-known tunes and a glimpse into the dazzling world of high society, La traviata is the perfect opera to introduce friends and family to Glyndebourne. In this stylish and sophisticated staging, director Tom Cairns and designer Hildegarde Bechtler emphasise the timeless nature of the story. Here, nineteenth-century glamour and excess meet contemporary minimalist chic in a production bursting with movement and energy.

A favourite with audiences and critics since it premiered in 2014, The Independent found the production ‘profoundly moving’, while The Observer declared it ‘impeccable’, with both rating it five stars.

A great moment to look out for

The unmistakable Brindisi is a fizzing glass of champagne – a musical encapsulation of the joyous hedonism of Act I, where Alfredo’s infectious energy draws in first Violetta, and then the entire chorus in song.

This video of the Brindisi from our Festival 2014 production has become our most popular video on YouTube, with nearly four million views: