Tragic tale ‘La Traviata’ to be presented at Phillips Center

April 6, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida College of Fine Arts joins University of Performing Arts to present “La Traviata” at 7:30 p.m. April 21 in the Phillips Center.

Written by Giuseppe Verdi, “La Traviata” is one of the most popular operas in the world, produced more frequently than any other opera with the exception of “Madame Butterfly” and “La Bohème.” Based on the novel “La dame aux Camélias” by Alexandre Dumas, it tells the story of star-crossed lovers Violetta and Alfredo.

Director of Opera Anthony Offerle, an associate professor in the School of Music, brings together an ensemble of internationally recognized guest artists and the talented graduate and undergraduate performers of the University of Florida Opera Theatre for this production. The production is directed by Tony Mata, the head of the musical theater program in the School of Theatre and Dance at the College of Fine Arts. Maestro Raymond Chobaz leads the UF Symphony Orchestra. Joining University of Florida students onstage are guest artists Suzanne Balaes-Blair in the role of Violetta and Walter Cuttino in the role of Alfredo.

Balaes-Blair has performed with the Sarasota Opera, the Syracuse Opera and the Eugene Opera. Walter Cuttino has more than 1,000 performances to his credit and is the chair of the voice faculty at the University of South Carolina. Serena Nicole Heffner, who received her bachelor’s and master’s of music from the University of Florida, and John Pritchard are the understudies for the two principal roles.

Tickets are available by calling the Phillips Center Box Office at 352-392-2787 or 800-905-2787 or by calling Ticketmaster at 904-353-3309. Orders may be faxed to 352-846-1562. Tickets are also available at the Phillips Center Box Office, University Box Office at the University of Florida Reitz Student Union and all Ticketmaster outlets; and on the Web at www.ticketmaster.com.

The Phillips Center Box Office is open from noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and two hours before performances.