Classic Italian Opera of Love and Tragedy, "La Traviata," to be Performed on Feb. 9

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present Opera Verdi Europa in La Traviata on at 8 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the Mainstage theater located in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

La Traviata is a full-length drama of stormy love between Parisian courtesan Violetta Valery and her young admirer, Alfredo Germont. Violetta struggles emotionally between her "freedom" and Alfredo's passionate romance. Leaving society behind, she falls in love with him and they move to a country house, but a series of unfortunate events disrupts their affair. Passion, scandal, misunderstanding and tuberculosis -- La Traviata has all the trappings of a great European tragedy.

Established in 1996 by Ivan Kyurkchiev, Opera Verdi Europa has consistently presented spectacular productions that combine the opera worlds of Bulgaria and the whole of Europe. The company collaborates with Bulgarian opera theatres and symphony orchestras, and opera houses from Romania, Hungary, Moldovia, Ukraine, and Russia. The performances are collaborative productions of Bulgaria's major opera houses -- houses in which many eminent singers, such as Orlin Anastassov and Dario Volonte, started their world-class careers.

Opera Verdi's rapid artistic and professional development over the past decade can be attributed largely to the premiere leadership provided by distinguished conductors such as Nayden Todorov, Metodi Matakiev, Luciano di Martino and Hristo Ignatov, stage directors Kuzman Popov and Pavel Gerdjikov, and choreographers Krzyzstof Pastor and Craig Revel Horwood. Members of the orchestra, choir and ballet are selected carefully from among the best of Bulgaria's musicians, singers and dancers. These accomplished artists, coupled with Opera Verdi's roster of renowned soloists, have enabled the company to grace each production with an inspiring artistic maturity.

Opera Verdi's repertoire includes a wide range of operatic works: Otello, Nabucco, Aida, Madamma Butterfly, Turandot, Il Trovatore, Tosca, La Boheme, Rigoletto, Gioconda, Carmina Burana (in a staged production), Don Carlo, La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, Un Ballo in Maschera and productions of the Mozart and Verdi Requiems.

Through its celebrated performances, Opera Verdi Europa has gained undisputed international recognition, appearing regularly on Europe's most prestigious opera stages.

Tickets for Opera Verdi Europa in La Traviata are $49, $39 and $29. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771.For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.