Ring in the New Year with live music and opera during the festive season of Nights of Lights in St. Augustine, Florida. First Coast Opera will present Verdi’s La Traviata, on stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 31; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 2 in Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College, 14 Granada St., in downtown St. Augustine. Tickets are available at firstcoastopera.com
Featuring one of the most iconic, romantic and tragic scores of all time, Verdi’s masterpiece contrasts spectacular party scenes with tender, intimate moments. La Traviata tells the story of the tragic love between the courtesan Violetta and the romantic Alfredo Germont. Played out against the hypocrisy of upper-class fashionable society, Alfredo and Violetta’s love threatens to shame his family. When his father directly appeals to Violetta to relinquish her one chance of happiness, Violetta submits and her act of self-sacrifice leads to her paying the ultimate price.
First Coast Opera’s Artistic Director Curtis Tucker will conduct the orchestra. He joined FCO in 2014 after staging productions with Opera Memphis, Mobile Opera, Fresno Grand Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, the University of North Florida Opera Theater, and the University of Mobile Opera Theater. Helena Binder is Stage Director, having directed the 2017 FCO production of Madama Butterfly.
The cast includes Shannon Kessley Dooley, playing Violetta Valery; Tenor Jose Simerilla Romero, playing Alfredo Germont; Baritone Joshua Jeremiah playing Giorgia Germont; Dan Altman as Barone Douphol; Tyler Putnam as Marquis d’Obigny; Sarah Nordin, playing Flora Bervoix; Michael Palmisano as Gastone; and Anthony Offerle as Doctor Grenvil; along with an ensemble of singers/performers.
This is a fully-staged opera with live orchestra. Tickets are $60 for the December 31 performance, which includes champagne during the two intermissions of this three-act performance. Tickets are $50 for the January 2 matinee. All student and children’s tickets are $10. Tickets are available at firstcoastopera.com or by calling 904-417-5555
ABOUT FIRST COAST OPERA
Founded in January 2000, First Coast Opera serves Northeast Florida’s First Coast region through a series of concerts and staged productions of operas and operettas. Based in Saint Augustine, performances feature guest artists from throughout the United States performing alongside local and regional talent. Visit firstcoastopera.com or call 904-417-5555, and follow on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
IF YOU GO
Verdi’s La Traviata
- December 31 at 7:30 p.m.
- January 2 at 2 p.m.
- Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine
- Tickets: firstcoastopera.com or 904-417-5555
