OPERA WESTERN RESERVE

Press Release

YOUNGSTOWN, OH (December 12, 2023): On Friday, November 22, 2024 at 7:30 pm, Opera Western Reserve will present La Traviata in the Edward W. Powers Auditorium at the DeYor Performing Arts Center.

Following the success of Carmen in November 2023, Opera Western Reserve has chosen the November 2024 opera selection to be performed. La Traviata is an opera in three acts by Guiseppe Verdi. It follows the life of Violetta, a high-class courtesan and a celebrated figure of the social scene. She loves life, is carefree, and is attached to no one. Violetta is her own woman, but alas her past life catches up with her and she is forced to sacrifice what may be her one and only chance of real love.

La Traviata is a riveting tale of scandal, forbidden relationships,and damaged reputations. It contains some of the most memorable melodies in opera including “Sempre libera” and the iconic drinking song “Brindisi.”

The opera, set to music by Verdi and adapted by Franceesco Maria Piave from the novel titled “La Dame aux camelias” by Alexandre Dumas fils, is broken into three acts and tells about love in its many forms: happiness in meeting, pleasure in bodies and minds, fight against convention, social condemnation, the pain of separation, and untimely death.
“The Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium Association (HHSAA) and Opera Western Reserve (OWR) was were the beginning of the partnership started that now includes the Youngstown Symphony Society (YSS) / DeYor Performing Arts Center (DeYor) as well as the Youngstown Playhouse. It is exciting to see the HHSAA / OWR partnership of nearly 20 years now grow closer with the YSS / DeYor part of the partnership by presenting OWR’s fall 2023 production in Powers Auditorium. Opera Western Reserve has grown and thrived at Stambaugh Auditorium, but now the opportunity for additional growth is available to OWR. By staging this year’s production on a stage that is fully able to support the artistic direction that OWR has been moving towards, this fall’s production is expected to bring an additional level of detail and excitement”, said Chief Executive and Operating Officer, Matt Pagac.
Tickets for La Traviata will go on sale Monday, July 3 and will be available Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM by calling 330-259-9651 or in person at the DeYor Performing Arts Center Box Office. Tickets will also be available 24 hours a day online at operawesternreserve.org.

About Opera Western Reserve:
Opera Western Reserve is a professional opera company celebrating its 20th year. Productions feature national and regional talent and encourage singers from the Western Reserve region, which includes Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. For more information, visit operawesternreserve.org or call 330-480-0693.