The Story of La Traviata
Opera abridged for Young Audience
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi | Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave
Based on noval by Alexandre Dumas fils
11 April, 10:30AM, 2:15PM
12 April, 10:30AM, 2:15PM, 4:30PM
Run time: Approx. 1 hr 15 mins with no intermission
Language: Italian (with Cantonese Narration) | Surtitle: Chinese / English

The Story of La Traviata (茶花女的故事) is based on the Italian Opera La Traviata with music by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) and libretto by Francesco Piave after the original novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils (1824-1895).
The production will take the form of a series of scenes carefully selected and adapted in order to reduce the total performance time from two-and-a-half hours to approximately 75 minutes. The scenes will be linked together with brief narratives spoken in the local dialect by an actor in the guise of the original author, Dumas, fils, who will present the tragic story as a succinct and cohesive work of art. The script of the narrative will be specially written for this production by Professor Lo Kingman as the producer and the director of the entire project.
There will be 11 musical numbers comprising the most famous and effective pages of the opera. The scenes will be fully staged with costumes and scenery specially designed in a style that emphasizes simplicity, refinement and dramatic appeal. The production involves 4 principal singers and a chorus of 8 who will individually also sing the secondary solo parts. There will be an instrumental ensemble of eight musicians under a conductor. Music needs to be specially arranged.
Synopsis
There will be 11 musical numbers comprising the most famous and effective pages of the opera. The scenes will be fully staged with costumes and scenery specially designed in a style that emphasizes simplicity, refinement and dramatic appeal. The production involves 4 principal singers and a chorus of 8 who will individually also sing the secondary solo parts. There will be an instrumental ensemble of eight musicians under a conductor. Music needs to be specially arranged.
Each performance consists of eleven musical numbers:
♦ Prelude
♦ Drinking Song
♦ Love Duet
♦ Violetta’s aria
♦ Violetta’s cabaletta
♦ Alfredo’s aria
♦ Violetta and Germont duet
♦ Germont’s aria
♦ Violetta’s humiliation scene
♦ Letter scene
♦ Reunion and death
The above numbers are linked by a narrator telling the story from the view-point of the original author, Alexandre Dumas, fils.
Cast
₍₁₎ 11/4, 10:30AM | ₍₂₎ 11/4, 2:15PM | ₍₃₎ 12/4, 10:30AM | ₍₄₎ 12/4, 2:15PM | ₍₅₎ 12/4, 4:30PM
Creative Team
Pre-Performance Talk
Arts Experience Scheme for Senior Secondary Students
https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/ab/en/aes.php
The Charm of Performing Arts
The arts bring to students experiences that connect life inside and outside the campus.
When textual narrative turns into live performance, lines, movements, lightings and shades on stage cast a spell of charm on the audience. This magical power created by stage performance calls for rumination and reflection, leaving the audience with sentiments of gratification when the curtain falls.
In fact, these arts groups don’t just perform. Their artists will also move downstage to share their creative process as well as the concept and structure of their works at pre/post-performance discussions and workshops, and share with participants on a wide range of topics from the history of drama to the symbolic meaning of a certain prop. These extension activities will reveal to students the flow of stage production and the many facets of performing arts.
Live performance exudes unparalleled charm in the eye of the audience, and gives artists a sense of fulfillment when they engage their audience and receive their warm applause. We believe that engaging in performing arts will bring enlightening experiences to audience and performers alike, and make them more understanding towards others and curious about life. We therefore look forward to the continuous support of principals and teachers to the Scheme. Let’s work together to enrich the arts experience of students and nurture young theatregoers.
* Since Audience Building Office (AB Office) under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)’s inception in the 2009/10 academic year, the Arts Experience Scheme for Senior Secondary Students by has been providing Other Learning Experiences in Aesthetic Development under the New Senior Secondary School Curriculum and encouraging personal visits to professional performing venues as well as immersion in the arts for enrichment of learning experience.
* Acknowledgement: The Arts Experience Scheme for Senior Secondary Students is supported by the Education Bureau.