La Traviata

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (Italian: [dʒuˈzɛppe ˈverdi]; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the help of a local patron. Verdi came to dominate the Italian opera scene after the era of Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, and Vincenzo Bellini, whose works significantly influenced him.

In his early operas, Verdi demonstrated a sympathy with the Risorgimento movement which sought the unification of Italy. He also participated briefly as an elected politician. The chorus "Va, pensiero" from his early opera Nabucco (1842), and similar choruses in later operas, were much in the spirit of the unification movement, and the composer himself became esteemed as a representative of these ideals. An intensely private person, Verdi did not seek to ingratiate himself with popular movements. As he became professionally successful, he was able to reduce his operatic workload and sought to establish himself as a landowner in his native region. He surprised the musical world by returning, after his success with the opera Aida (1871), with three late masterpieces: his Requiem (1874), and the operas Otello (1887) and Falstaff (1893).

His operas remain extremely popular, especially the three peaks of his 'middle period': Rigoletto, Il trovatore and La traviata. The bicentenary of his birth in 2013 was widely celebrated in broadcasts and performances.

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Francesco Maria Piave (18 May 1810 – 5 March 1876) was an Italian opera librettist who was born in Murano in the lagoon of Venice, during the brief Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy.

Piave's career spanned over twenty years working with many of the significant composers of his day, including Giovanni Pacini (four librettos), Saverio Mercadante (at least one), Federico Ricci, and even one for Michael Balfe. He is most well known as Giuseppe Verdi's librettist, for whom he was to write 10 librettos, the most well-known being those for Rigoletto and La traviata.

But Piave was not only a librettist: he was a journalist and translator in addition to being the resident poet and stage manager at La Fenice in Venice where he first encountered Verdi. Later, Verdi was helpful in securing him the same position at La Scala in Milan.^[1] His expertise as a stage manager and his tact as a negotiator served Verdi very well, but the composer bullied him mercilessly for his pains over many years.

Like Verdi, Piave was an ardent Italian patriot, and in 1848, during Milan's "Cinque Giornate," when Radetzky's Austrian troops retreated from the city, Verdi wrote to Piave in Venice addressing him as "Citizen Piave."

Together, they worked on ten operas between 1844 and 1862, and Piave would have also prepared the libretto for Aida when Verdi accepted the commission for it in 1870, had he not suffered a stroke which left him paralyzed and unable to speak. Verdi helped to support his wife and daughter, proposing that "an album of pieces by famous composers be compiled and sold for Piave's benefit".^[2] The composer paid for his funeral when he died nine years later in Milan aged 65 and arranged for his burial at the Monumental Cemetery.

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Celebrated soprano, Cecilia Violetta López, has been named one of “Idaho’s Top 10 Most Influential Women of the Century” by USA Today and has been named one of opera’s “25 Rising Stars” by Opera News. The singing actress is constantly praised for her “alluring voice and incredible range” (Washington Post).

She has received accolades for her signature role of Violetta in La traviata, which she has performed countless times throughout North America. Critic, James Jorden, exclaimed “she is a Violetta fully- formed and, I think, ready for the great stages of the world.” She has now performed the role with Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Tampa, Opera Idaho, Ash Lawn Opera, The Northern Lights Music Festival, Madison Opera, Pacific Symphony and Virginia Opera. Ms. López made her European début as Norina in Don Pasquale with Zomeropera in Belgium, for which Klassiek Centraal exclaimed: “She turns out to be the revelation of the show and wins over the audience with her funny rendition, irresistible charm, and [she is] natural in the different vocals.”

From her performance as Adina in The Elixir of Love with Virginia Opera, The Virginian- Pilot hailed, “Cecilia Violetta López is showing local audiences why Opera News named her one of its ’25 Rising Stars.’ In the lead role of Adina, she hit the highest notes with ringing clarity, performed the vocal runs with precision and grace and showed a particular charm and humanity in the softest passages and lowest ranges.” In her recent performance as Marguerite in Faust with Opera Omaha, the Omaha World-Herald claimed “...López sang Marguerite’s seduction, madness and salvation with an other wordly wisdom and artistry.”

Despite the halting effects of COVID-19 in the opera industry, Ms. López’ 2020-2021 has included both virtual and live recitals with Opera Idaho, Opera Las Vegas, Austin Opera, Opera Southwest, Chatter ABQ, and Madison Opera. Ms. López made her company debut with Pacific Symphony as Violetta in their 90 minute version of La traviata, and Ms. López will also be the featured soprano soloist in the world premier of Mi Camino, a virtual project with Opera Cultura. Cecilia will also return to Opera Colorado as a soprano soloist in Canciones de Nuestras Tierras: a live, outdoor performance.

Baritone Daniel Sutin recently sang the role of the villainous police chief Baron Scarpia in the Northern Lights Music Festival’s critically acclaimed production of Tosca, the first North American opera production to be performed with social distancing. Upcoming engagements include Don Fernando in Fidelio with Polish National Opera, and the title role in Rigoletto with Opera North. In 2019-20, Mr. Sutin covered the title role in Wozzeck at the Metropolitan Opera. The 2018-19 season marked his debut with Arizona Opera as Giorgio Germont in La Traviata. In 2017-18, Mr. Sutin’s engagements included Baron Scarpia in Boston Lyric Opera’s new production of Tosca, Giacomo in Giovanna d’Arco with Odyssey Opera, and his return to Chicago to cover Alberich in Siegfried. He also debuted with San Francisco Opera to cover Alberich in their complete Ring Cycle.

In 2015-16, Daniel debuted the role of Jokanaan in Salome with the Detroit Symphony, sang Don Fernando in Fidelio with Cincinnati Opera, Iago in Otello with the Phoenicia Festival of Voice, Enrico Ashton in Lucia di Lammermoor with Boheme Opera of New Jersey, and covered the title role of Wozzeck and Alberich in Das Rheingold at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Alberich in the complete Der Ring des Nibelungen at Washington National Opera. In 2014, Daniel Sutin sang the title role of Wozzeck at the Metropolitan Opera, stepping in at the last moment for an indisposed Thomas Hampson, and was the One-Eyed Brother in Die Frau ohne Schatten. Other engagements for the 2014-15 season included Biterolf in Tannhäuser (Lyric Opera of Chicago),and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly (Hawaii Opera Theatre). In 2013, he sang Giorgio Germont in La Traviata(Savonlinna Opera Festival, Finland), the title role of Rigoletto (Musica Viva, The Opera Society of Hong Kong), Konrad Nachtigall in Die Meistersinger von Nurmberg (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Tonio in I Pagliacci (Austin Lyric Opera), and Valentin in Faust (Boheme Opera of New Jersey). Highlights of the 2011-12 season include Mr. Sutin’s debut at Boston Lyric Opera in the title role of Macbeth, and Marcello in Opera Fairbanks’ production of La Boheme.

In 2010-11, he returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago as Sonora in La Fanciulla del West, sang the role of Paolo Albiani in Simon Boccanegra (L’Opéra de Montréal), Iago in Otello (Palm Beach Opera), and was at the Metropolitan Opera for Wozzeck and Boris Godunov. In addition he sang Baron Scarpia in Las Vegas Opera’s Production of Tosca. 2009-10 season highlights: Peter, the Father (cover) in Hänsel und Gretel (Metropolitan Opera), title role of Rigoletto (San Antonio Opera and Nashville Opera), and Paolo in Simon Boccanegra (Canadian Opera Company. 2008-09 marked Mr. Sutin’s debut with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as Sonora in La Fanciulla del West. In addition, he sang Sharpless in Madama Butterfly (Savonlinna Opera Festival, Michigan Opera Theatre). 2007-08 was his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut, as the One-Eyed Brother in Die Frau ohne Schatten. It also was his seventh season at the Metropolitan Opera, where he was Paris in Roméo et Juliette. Other season highlights include Giorgio Germont in La Traviata (Reisoper Nederlandse), and Sergeant Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore (San Antonio Opera). Following a Verdi Gala for the Santa Barbara Opera to open the 2006-7 season, Mr. Sutin was heard at the Metropolitan in the world premiere of Tan Dun’s The First Emperor, and sang Orest in Elektra(Canadian Opera Company) and Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore (Caramoor Festival).

Soprano Courtney G. Schwalbe is a Mississippi native whose versatility as a performer has led her to successfully sing leading roles and solos in opera, musical theater, and major choral works. Ms. Schwalbe’s operatic roles include Carla Mae in Ricky Ian Gordon’s The House Without a Christmas Tree, Delores in Frank Pesci’s Royal Flush, Carmen and Mercédès in Carmen, Ruggiero in Alcina, Elettra in Idomeneo, and Dorabella in Così fan tutte. In concert, she has performed solos in Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Mass in B Minor, and Bernstein’s Missa Brevis. Ms. Schwalbe has performed with the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) Festival Orchestra, Opera Las Vegas, the Mediterranean Opera Studio Festival, Nashville Opera, Red River Lyric Opera, the Middle Tennessee Choral Choral Society with members of the Nashville Symphony, and the International Choral Festival of Missoula, Montana.

Ms. Schwalbe holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Montana. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Musical Arts under the instruction of Dr. Alfonse Anderson at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Ms. Schwalbe resides in Las Vegas with her husband, Michael, and their dog Romeo.

Praised for her \"sterling soprano that is a pleasure in and of itself\" (Springfield News-Leader) and described as “a powerhouse of talent, ” (Chris’ Corner, Travel and Theatre), Genevieve Fulks has established herself as a multifaceted soprano excelling in opera, musical theatre, pop, and contemporary classical music. Born and raised in Arkansas, she is a new resident of Vegas, where she made her opera role debuts with Vegas City Opera as Lucy Brown in Threepenny Opera and Ortlinde in Die Walküre. She is the former lead soprano of Spirit Productions’ international sensation Dublin’s Irish Tenors and The Celtic Ladies and has performed regionally (southern and midwest US) with numerous opera companies and theaters, most notably, Ozarks Lyric Opera, Springfield Little Theatre, Knoxville Opera, Opera in the Ozarks, King’s Castle Theatre, Andy Williams Moon River Theatre, Virginia Baroque Performance Academy, and the Delta Symphony Orchestra. Internationally, she has performed with the Sankt Goar International Music Festival, the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra of Czechia, and the Krakow Forum Sinfonia of Poland. Genevieve currently sings full time in Streetmosphere at the Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip. Her favorite professional credits include Cunegonde in Candide, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Lily in The Secret Garden, and Serpina in La serva padrona. You can find her first studio album, Passages, on Spotify, where she sings the chamber and orchestral music of composer Michael F. Murray with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra of the Czech Republic.

Marco Varela, tenor, started his classical vocal studies at Televisa Studios in Mexico City. He pursued a degree in business management at UNLV while under a music scholarship.

Mr Varela's professional opera career began with the Seattle Opera Company. He produced and recorded a curated selection of arias in his CD “Trilogia” and performs throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Asia.

He leads an active schedule singing in private events, local opera companies, fundraisers and has performed for international diplomats and for live television.

He is an active member of both the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

Baritone André Chiang has been described as “vocally commanding” (Oregonian), “handsome of voice” (Opera News), and lauded with “let’s hear more from this singer” (Washington Post). Chiang’s engagements include Ping (Turandot) with OperaDelaware, Marcello (La bohème) and Artist Martinez/Ecce Homo (Behold the Man - world premiere) with Opera Las Vegas, and Escamillo (Carmen) with Opera Western Reserve. Chiang has also been seen with the Glimmerglass Festival, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera Philadelphia, the Atlanta Opera, Portland Opera, Virginia Opera, New Orleans Opera, Opera Las Vegas, Mobile Opera, and other American opera companies.

As an educator, Chiang was a 2018 NATS Intern and in the first cohort of Pan American Vocology Association – Recognized Vocologists (PAVA-RV). Chiang is an Assistant Professor of Voice at Emory University, an Instructor of Voice at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, and runs a private online and in-person studio teaching acoustic and amplified styles.

Baritone, Chase Orlando Gutierrez, a Las Vegas native young artist whose personable and charismatic singing has taken him from Las Vegas to Spain. Mr. Gutierrez has performed in numerous operas throughout the years: Don Alfonso in Così fan Tutte, Jupiter in Orpheus in the Underworld (English), The Notary in Don Pasquale, The Notary/Buoso Donati in Gianni Schicchi, Thierry in Dialogues of the Carmelites (English), Quartet Chorus of Dido and Aenaeus, Chorus of Pirates of Penzance, and Chorus of La Cenerentola. In concert Chase has performed as the baritone soloist in Charpentier’s Te Deum, and has sung spirituals throughout Spain and Portugal. Chase is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at UNLV under the supervision of Dr. Alfonse Anderson. Outside of the world of opera Chase is a multimedia specialist as the onsite audio engineer and photographer in his studio.

Norman Espinoza, a Bass originally from San José California, has performed internationally and with numerous opera companies around the country. He is a graduate from San José State University where he obtained both his M.M. and B.M. in Vocal Performance.

Recognized for his powerful low notes, he has sung for Opera San José, Livermore Valley Opera, Lyric Opera Orange County, Opera Las Vegas, Opera Modesto, Berlin Opera Academy, Montefeltro Music Festival in Italy, and was recently a Chrisman Studio Artist for Opera Santa Barbara.

Roles Norman has sung include: Colline, Alidoro, Mustafà, Reverend Hale, Leporello, Il Commendatore, Sparafucile, Bartolo, Dr Grenvil, Seneca and Sarastro to name a few.

Norman now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife/new born son and works closely with Opera Las Vegas. He's also a Gondolier Singer for the Venetian Resort and he would love to take you on a ride on his gondola in Las Venice!

Praised for conducting with "steady acumen and considerable aplomb" and "awesome control” (Opera Today), Joshua Horsch is an extremely versatile operatic and symphonic conductor.  A two-time winner of the American Prize in Opera Conducting, Joshua serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of Opera Las Vegas. Joshua’s recent and upcoming conducting engagements include appearances with Washington National Opera, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Orlando, Opera Idaho, Opera Baltimore, Greensboro Opera, Mobile Opera, Pacific Opera Project, and Tri-Cities Opera.  With a diverse repertoire of over sixty operas and a broad spectrum of orchestral and choral works, Joshua has recently held positions as a conductor and pianist/coach on the music staff of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, Detroit Opera, Florida Grand Opera, North Carolina Opera, Opera Saratoga, Pensacola Opera, the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Newport Music Festival. Joshua studied conducting and piano at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Pennsylvania State University, and Ithaca College.

Stage director Octavio Cardenas captivates audiences with his visionary, visceral, and physical style of directing. Opera News has praised him for creating “an immersive theater experience” while the Dallas Morning News hailed him for bringing “every character and situation to life.” Recent projects include Traviata with Opera Las Vegas, Cruzar la cara de la Luna with Opera Santa Barbara, and the World Premiere of Zorro with Fort Worth Opera and Southwest opera. Barber of Seville with Opera Delaware, and Florencia en el Amazonas with Eastman Opera Theater.

Mr. Cardenas’ recent productions of Silent Night for Fort Worth Opera and Lyric Opera of Kansas City were described as “a breathtaking realization” with “many brilliant touches.” The Kansas City Star called the Lyric Opera’s production “one of its finest performances in recent memory.” Other recent productions include La boheme for Minnesota opera to which the Start Tribune acclaimed, “what makes the production a success, is Octavio Cardenas’ staging.” His production of As One for UrbanArias was acclaimed by MD Theater Guide, “Under the direction of Octavio Cardenas, the two stars playfully make great use of both stage and energetic space—it seemed the theatre condensed and expanded with Hannah’s journey.”

He has served as the Director of Baylor Opera, Director of Chapman Opera at Chapman University. Head of Directing Staff at Des Moines Metro Opera and has also been on the directing staff at Chautauqua Opera. Mr. Cardenas works at The Eastman School of Music as Professor of Opera where he recently directed Florencia en el Amazonas.  Upcoming projects include Don Pasquale with Opera Omaha and Zorro with Opera Santa Barbara.

Catherine M. Pratt is a theatrical, dance, and opera Lighting Designer based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Her recent design credits with Opera Las Vegas include Approaching Ali, A Capacity for Evil, Letters to Lily, and Proving Up. Catherine has also worked on various other lighting design projects that include Alice\'s Adventures in Wonderland (Rainbow Company Youth Theatre), Elf the Musical (Sierra Repertory Theatre), La Canterina & Der Scheuspiedirektor (UNLV Theater Opera & Nevada Conservatory Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Nevada Conservatory Theatre), Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (UNLV Department of Dance), This Moment of Movement (UNLV Department of Dance), Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet (Nevada Conservatory Theatre), and DramArt (a collaboration between UNLV and Cirque du Soleil).

Catherine holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre with emphasis in Lighting Design from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a B.A. in Theatre from Mount Marty University in Yankton, SD.

Bonita Bunt has studied Music, Theatre, Musical Theatre, and English literature and is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she earned her Doctorate and Master of Music in Vocal Performance. She has enjoyed ten years of working in the Las Vegas Valley as performer, director, assistant director, and stage manager. La Traviata marks her 20th production with Opera Las Vegas. Currently, Dr. Bunt serves as Director of Opera at the University of Mississippi.

Timothy Accurso is the Principal Pianist for Opera Santa Barbara, joining the company in the fall of 2018. Tim has been on music staff with Utah Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Saratoga, and the Seagle Music Colony. Originally from Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, he completed his undergraduate studies at Susquehanna University in Vocal and Piano Performance. To further his studies in opera, Tim received a Master’s of Music in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied with Dr. Julie Jordan Gunn. Following his studies, Tim was a resident artist with Utah Opera from 2015-2017. In his work with Opera Santa Barbara, he plays all mainstage rehearsals, serves as chorus master of the Opera Santa Barbara chorus, directs the Chrisman Studio Artist program for emerging singers, and performs in community concerts throughout Santa Barbara and the central coast. In addition to his work at the opera, Tim was named the Artistic Director of the Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus in the fall of 2022.