From the 275-year-old San Carlo Theatre comes the treasured opera classic in celebration of the bicentenary of Verdi, who had colossal influence on the development of Italian opera. In this new staging of La Traviata, award-winning film director Ferzan Özpetek and triple Oscar-winning art director Dante Ferretti (Hugo, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and The Aviator) inject contemporary cinematographic insights into Verdi’s enduring score to be performed by a troupe of 200 players, comprising an orchestra, chorus and world class soloists. Blinded by deceptions, defied by social limits and eventually defeated by tuberculosis, the passionate Violetta makes herself a fearless heroine in this heart-wrenching romance that nevertheless renews your faith in love. Performed in Italian with English and Chinese subtitles. The 23 March performance is sponsored by HKR International Limited.Cast & Production: Music GIUSEPPE VERDI Libretto FRANCESCO MARIA PIAVE Conductor MICHELE MARIOTTI Director FERZAN ÖZPETEK Chorus Conductor SALVATORE CAPUTO Set DANTE FERRETTI Costume ALESSANDRO LAI Violetta Valéry CARMEN GIANNATTASIO Alfredo Germont GIUSEPPE GIPALI Giorgio Germont SIMONE PIAZZOLA Flora Bervoix GIUSEPPINA BRIDELLI with the SAN CARLO ORCHESTRA and CHORUS For further information: http://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en