Live and love, to the last breath

We have just one pick for January. A standout “must-go” event for both opera buffs and virgins. Even for the mildly curious, this is an ideal trial of opera.

We are recommending La Traviata performed live at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London on Wednesday 14th January and streamed direct to us here at the Cinesa in Sant Cugat. We get all the drama and glamour of Covent Garden while sitting in comfy cinema seats, munching popcorn and slurping your fizzy drink. And if partway through you decide you really can’t take any more, you can simply get up and leave. Try doing that when you’re stuck in the middle row at the Royal Opera House!

Best of all, the ticket costs just 28€ including an interval drink and snack. To sit the same distance from the stage in London would cost ten times that.

Heart-rending arias meet harsh realities in this captivating story, one of the most famous and frequently performed operas in the world. La Traviata (literally: she who has strayed – tra – from the path – via) is inspired by the real-life Parisian courtesan Marie Duplessis (Violetta in the opera), about whom Alexandre Dumas (son) wrote a novel and play: La Dame Aux Camélias.

Verdi’s portrayal of Violetta is complex, compassionate and deeply human, highlighting her generosity, dignity and devotion to Alfredo. The role is a favourite of star sopranos, and in this production Violetta is sung by the superb Ermonela Jaho.

The story is timeless.

At one of her lavish Parisian parties, Violetta meets Alfredo Germont, who has admired her from afar. They fall in love and retreat to the countryside, but their happiness is short-lived.

Alfredo’s father, Giorgio, persuades Violetta to sacrifice her love to protect his family’s reputation. Heartbroken, she agrees. When Alfredo later confronts her in Paris, misunderstandings explode. And with Violetta’s health failing, the consequences are devastating.

This intimate yet sumptuous production by Richard Eyre glows with visual elegance and unforgettable music, including the famous drinking song Libiamo – a tune everyone knows, with its irresistible message that pleasure is all that matters.

Opera is an all-encompassing art form and can be an acquired taste, but preparation is key. Read the synopsis beforehand, listen to a few arias on YouTube, read the back-story of the heroine, and you’ll enjoy it far more.

The performance lasts around two hours plus two intervals, making it a relaxed three-hour evening.

We’ll be there with our Sant Cugat magazines. Bring yours and say hello at the interval.

If you want to know about this and more live events, please visit: https://cinemessantcugat.com/