Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto: Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Premiere: March 6, 1853 at La Fenice opera house in Venice
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes, with two intermissions
Performances: September 12, 16, 18 at 7pm & September 20 at 3pm
| Role | Cast A (Sept. 12 & 16) | Cast B (Sept. 18 & 20) |
|---|---|---|
| Violetta Valéry, a courtesan Soprano |
Miriam Costa-Jackson
|
Jacquelyn Abbott
|
| Alfredo Germont, Violetta's lover Tenor |
Sam Plumb
|
Daniel Perez
|
| Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father Baritone |
Matthew Castleton
|
Marc Abbott
|
| Gastone, Visconte di Letorières Tenor |
Court Thomas
|
Alex Harrelson
|
| Flora Bervoix, Violetta's friend Mezzo Soprano |
Katie Mansfield
|
Anna Davis
|
| Marchese D'Obigny Baritone |
Rod Hansen
|
Mike Rasmussen
|
| Barone Douphol, Alfredo's rival Baritone |
Hayden Höglund
|
Nelson LeDuc
|
| Dottor Grenvil, a physician Bass-Baritone |
Jordan Sabey
|
Daniel Tuutau
|
| Annina, Violetta's maid Soprano |
Karissa Kim
|
Deborah Johnson
|
| Giuseppe, Violetta's servant Tenor |
Alex Harrelson
|
Court Thomas
|
| Role | All shows | All shows |
|---|---|---|
| Chorus SATB |
Kristi Hansen
|
Sarah Seamons
|
| Chorus (cont.) SATB |
Amy Banta
|
Emily Jameson
|
| Chorus (cont.) SATB |
Brita Marchant
|
Meg Steele
|
| Chorus (cont.) SATB |
Emily Mijarez
|
Lauren Manzione
|
| Chorus (cont.) SATB |
Doree LeBeau
|
|
| Choreographer |
Carly Schaub
|
|
| Stage Manager |
Trent Hall
|
|
| Assistant Stage Manager |
Doug Hendriksen
|
|
| Stagehands |
Anna Davis
|
|
| Lighting |
Jack Dingman
|
|
| Costuming |
Deborah Siddoway
|
|
| Wigs & Makeup |
Daniel Perez
|
|
Italian-American lyric coloratura soprano Miriam Costa-Jackson is the youngest of the Costa Jackson Sisters. In 2019, she made her acclaimed Seattle Opera debut as Clorina in La Cenerentola. Performing since age 14, she has appeared in productions with Utah Festival Opera, debuted professionally as Micaëla in Carmen at the Phoenicia Festival in 2018, and performed roles like the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte. Regularly performing with her sisters, Miriam has toured with Dmitri Hvorostovsky and appeared in concert at Wichita Opera. She was a finalist in the 2018 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and has studied with Renata Scotto and Sherrill Milnes.
DR. JACQUELYN ABBOTT, soprano, has loved singing from a very young age and began her vocal training not far from here in Kaysville, Utah. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders from BYU, she felt singing was her true calling and went on to receive a Doctor of Music in Voice Performance with distinction from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Jacquelyn enjoys teaching at Utah State and maintains a private studio with her husband, Marc Abbott. She loves to perform and direct as often as she can and recently appeared as Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus and Phoebe in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.
Sam Plumb is excited to be performing for the first time with Lyrical Opera Theater. In May 2025 he earned his Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Utah. His Summer 2025 performing season was spent as a Resident Artist at Teatro Nuovo, an opera company based in NJ that focuses on period-accurate presentations of the classic Bel Canto repertoire. When he's not singing opera, Sam enjoys video games, playing piano, reading poetry, studying Italian, and camping. He has taught private voice/piano lessons for 3+ years, which is his dream career! Instagram: @ samplumbtenor.
Daniel Perez originally from Mexico, is a tenor currently residing in Sandy, Utah. He is currently a student of Isaac Hurtado at Utah Valley University. Perez is no stranger to Lyrical Opera Theaters stage as he has performed in multiple productions including: Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca, and Rodolfo in La Bohéme. He was recently a young artist at the 2023 Mediterranean Opera Festival in Sicily singing the role of Alfredo in La Traviata and Normanno/Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor. His other more recent roles are: Hoffmann in The Tales of Hoffmann, Algernon Moncrieff in the North American premiere of L'importanza di essere Onesto, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, and Camille de Rossillon in The Merry Widow. He has also sung as a chorister in multiple productions of Utah Opera and with the Utah Symphony.
Matthew Thomas Castleton (Salt Lake City, Utah) is delighted to appear in LOT's new production of Falstaff. Mr. Castleton has a large swath of operatic experience, including several roles with Lyrical Opera Theater: Dancairo/Morales in Carmen (2024), Colline in La Boheme (2023), Tonio in Pagliacci (2023), and Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor (2022). Mr. Castleton also appeared in Emmanuel Chabrier's L'Étoile (Vegas City Opera 2017). Mr. Castleton was a young artist at the 2009 La Musica Lirica Opera Young Artist Program (Novafeltria, Italy). He holds both Bachelors (2010) and Masters (2014) Degrees in Music-Vocal Performance from the University of Utah. When he is not performing, Matthew also works as a Order Fulfillment Associate at Lowe's while making his home in Midvale, Utah.
MARC ABBOTT, baritone, studied under tenor Harry Dunstan of the American Center for Puccini Studies, singing Pictordu (Cendrillon, Viardot), Guglielmo Wulf (Le Villi), Michele (Il tabarro), Scarpia (Tosca), Herr Colas (Bastien und Bastienne), and scenes as Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro). More recently, he has sung the Notary/Doctor (Gianni Schicchi), performed in the ensemble in Utah Festival Opera's "Carmen", and Schaunard (La bohème) with Lyrical Opera Theater. He currently teaches voice at Utah State University and in his private studio in Cache Valley with his wife, Jacquelyn, who is performing Frasquita in this production.
Court Thomas, is very excited to be part of this production of The Magic Flute, returning to his first ever operatic role of Monostatos. He wishes to thank the Lyrical Opera Theater for this incredible opportunity. Originally hailing from Northern Virginia, he has recently completed a Masters Degree in Music from the University of Utah, where he also got his Bachelors Degree. He made his operatic debut there as Monostatos in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. From there, he has performed works by Verdi, Mozart, Rossini, Bizet, Menotti and Sondheim, among others. Court has been privileged to work with some incredible people, including his teacher, Kirstin Chavez, David Cangelosi, Dr. Robert Breault and many others besides. He is so grateful for all their guidance and care as he's progressed these past years. Above all, he is most grateful to his wonderful partner Zac and his amazing family and friends for their love and belief in him his whole life and their constant encouragement as he pursues his dreams.
Originally from North Carolina, tenor Alex Harrelson is pursuing a DMA at the University of Utah. Recent roles at the U include Rodolfo in La bohème, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Ferrando in scenes from Cosi fan tutte, Anthony in Sweeney Todd, and leading roles in new operas A.L.I.C.E. by Amy Scurria and A Christmas Carol by Leavitt and Buck. With Lyrical Opera Theater he has performed as El Remendado in Carmen, Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi. Other recent performances include Messiah with the Nebo Holiday Chorus and Orchestra and several ambitious recitals featuring Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch and Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin. Alex recently directed a production of Vaughan Williams' opera Riders to the Sea.
bio coming soon
Anna Davis is a mezzo-soprano pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Utah State University. She has performed roles such as Bianca in The Rape of Lucretia and Un pâtre in L'enfant et les Sortilèges. Anna is a recipient of the Schmidt High School Encouragement Award and the NATS First Place Award (Central Utah Chapter). She has appeared in a Carnegie Hall masterclass and concert and brings skills in piano, dance, Spanish, and costuming to her work.
Rod Hansen has appeared in five productions with Lyrical Opera Theater. Most recently he was Frank, the warden, in Die Fledermaus. He also played Fiorello in The Barber of Seville, Benoit in La Boheme and sang in the choruses of Pagliacci and Carmen. Prior to that, he appeared in musicals, such as Spamalot and Fiddler on the Roof and at Evermore Park. He is often found at Renaissance Faires performing as a medieval style bard; singing, playing guitar, and juggling.
Michael can often be found singing, either at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Salt Lake City, with the Utah Sacred Harp Singers, or with friends singing Renaissance polyphony for fun. In 2024, he sang in the chorus for Opera Contempo's premier of Le Roman de Silence. In 2023, he joined singers from St. Mary's Catholic Church (Park City) to sing Josquin's Missa Pange Lingua and joined singers from St. Paul's (Park City) and elsewhere to sing Faure's Requiem. When he is not singing, he can be found working for The University of Utah or wandering the foothills and cemeteries of Salt Lake City.
Hailed as having a voice "like triple-chocolate brownie batter: rich and easy," and as being a "truly… talented musician and performer," Hayden Höglund is excited to be a part of Die Zauberflöte. Höglund has been seen in many roles locally, including Falke in Die Fledermaus, Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Mr. Sowerberry in Oliver!, and Betto di Signa in Gianni Schicchi; however, he's particularly excited to be singing the role of Sarastro, as it would have been his first role in an opera- if the Plague hadn't come along to cancel it. Höglund's favorite turn-of-the-twentieth-century operatic tenors are Joseph Schmidt, John McCormack, and Francesco Tamagno (in that order (although Lauri-Volpi is a close fourth).
Nelson LeDuc has never been a stranger to music. He played clarinet in elementary school, bass guitar in a rock band in the late 1970s, and since 1988 has been a regular singer with Utah Opera Company, having now sung in 84 productions with that company. Besides singing a number of cameo roles with Utah Opera, Nelson has also been a featured soloist in the Mozart Requiem, Handel's Messiah, and with Utopia Early Music. He sang the title role in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado with Pages Lane Theater (predecessor to Centerpoint Legacy Theater) in 1991. More recently, he has performed the role of Simone in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi with Utah/Idaho Performing Arts Company in 2015, and has sung the roles of Lord Mountararat in Iolanthe (2011) and Dr. Tannhauser in The Grand Duke (2017), both Gilbert & Sullivan operettas presented by Holladay Performing Arts. This is his third season with Lyrical Opera Theater, having previously sung the roles of Pistola in Falstaff and Baron Douphol in La Traviata. Besides his active performance schedule, Nelson is currently pursuing a degree in music composition from the University of Utah.
Jordan Sabey singing the role of Sarastro is thrilled to join Lyrical Opera Theater for the first time in their production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. Jordan grew up in Delta Utah. When he is not singing he enjoys baking, reading, and crochet. Jordan would like to extend his thanks to his high school choir teacher Dr. Cory Mendenhall whose classes were his first lessons. He is grateful to his past teachers the Babidges as well as Dr. Isaac Hurtado. He is forever thankful to his current teachers Dr. Chris Holmes and Marina Costa-Jackson. He owes a special shout out to Serena Kanig Benish for her constant support throughout the years.
Daniel Tuutau, Baritone, is originally from Los Angeles, California. He holds BA & MM degrees in music from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Utah in Vocal Performance. He frequently sings with the Lyrical Opera Theater in Midvale, Utah, and is currently a regular member of the Utah Opera Chorus. He has worked as an adjunct professor in voice at the University of Utah in the Theater Department and also teaches private studio voice lessons throughout the Salt Lake Valley. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Brandy, and their four children.
Karissa Kim lives in South Jordan, where she teaches music lessons and trains dogs and horses. Karissa has a bachelor's in vocal performance from UVU and a master's from Texas State University. She was featured in opera and theatre productions during her studies there. She has studied music overseas and has also performed as a member of Utah Opera Chorus. Recent roles include Baker's Wife in Into the Woods, Rosie in Mamma Mia!, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Jerusha Abbot in Daddy Long Legs, and the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.
Deborah is excited to make her debut in a lead role with Lyrical Opera Theater. She has recently performed in Hunchback of Notre Dame as Florika, various productions in the Utah Opera Chorus and Lyrical Opera Theater Chorus, Dorothee in UVAA's Cendrillon, and Lady Beconsfield in Draper Historic Theatre's Jekyll and Hyde. She looks forward to playing the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus next February with Lyrical Opera. Outside of evening performances she is a piano and voice teacher as well as a piano tuner. She enjoys mountain biking, four-wheeling, camping, hiking, and crocheting. She'd like to give a big thanks to her husband for all his support in her vocal health and performances.
Kristi has a great love of many types of music. As a nurse, she understands how operatic singing stimulates the vagus nerve, promoting positive health effects such as pain management, cardiovascular health, and reduced stress. This is her first appearance in a Lyrical Opera Theater production, and she is very excited to share the stage with such talented performers.
Sarah Seamons, a native of Ogden, Utah, developed her passion for music and performance through community theater and participation in university choirs. She has performed with the Utah Oratorio Society and currently studies under Lynnette Owens. Sarah's operatic roles include Giovanna in Rigoletto and covering the role of Suzuki in Lyrical Opera Theater's production of Madama Butterfly. She has appeared as a soloist at Lyrical Opera Theater's 2019 Masquerade Party and at Salt Lake City's Festa Italiana. Sarah has also performed in the ensembles of La Traviata, Falstaff, Carmen, and Die Fledermaus with Lyrical Opera Theater.
Amy Banta didn't know she could sing until she was almost 30. Now she's making up for lost time. In Washington, D.C. she performed at The National Cathedral and with The Georgetown Gilbert and Sullivan Society, singing for prominent members of all branches of government. Locally, she's performed at The Empress Theatre and with The Motley Wandering Minstrels. She also sings and plays Celtic Harp (and occasionally the banjo) with her folk trio "The High Desert Harpies." This is Amy's first time performing grand opera. Thank you for being her first opera audience.
Emily has previous experience with opera performing in the Pagliacci opera chorus. Emily has been performing in musical theatre productions for the past four years. Favorite roles include: Fastrada in Pippin and Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins. Other favorite shows include Into the Woods and Addams Family.
My name is Brita Marchant, and I love to sing! I am currently a Vocal Performance major at USU, and I have a long way to go! Carmen was my first ever musical/opera production and I am looking forward to La Traviata. My other hobbies include painting, hiking, reading, sewing, and spending time with friends and family.
bio coming soon
Emily Anderson Mijarez is excited to be making her fifth appearance at Lyrical Opera Theater. She recently played the role of Berta in Lyrical Opera's performance of Barber of Seville and played the role of Flora in Lyrical Opera's performance of La Traviata in 2019. However, she has spent most of her musical career on the musical theater stage. She has performed at The Hale Theater Orem in South Pacific and Guys and Dolls, as well as in many local community productions. Her favorite roles to date are Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde and Ms. Hannigan in Annie. Emily is extremely grateful to her family, friends and husband who encourage her daily to pursue her dreams. She is also very grateful to Lynnette Owens who continues to push her outside her comfort zone.
Doree is anxiously yet excitedly joining Lyrical Opera Theater for the first time. Known for her vibrant Soprano voice, a love of music and theatre brings her to this fantastical fairytale adventure of Die Zauberflöte. As with Prince Tamino, she is on a journey of self-discovery guided by music, wisdom, and love …all-the-while feeling exceptional resonance with Ruddigore's Mad Margaret. Hopefully, a slight diversion can be paddleboarding on the nearest river or biking through the nearest grove with her aussiedoodle, Nico.
Lauren began her musical journey singing with her four older brothers and is delighted to be involved in The Magic Flute alongside her daughter, son, and two brothers. She has performed as a page and in the chorus of Falstaff, and in the chorus of Die Fledermaus with Lyrical Opera Theater. Her musical background includes Madrigals, All-State Choir, the University of Utah Institute Singers, and playing the clarinet. Lauren has a master's degree in public health, works full-time as a healthcare IT data analyst, and is the proud mother of four. She is grateful for the support of her husband, Ben, who shares her love of opera.
Carly Schaub lives in SLC, where she also completed her M.F.A. at the University of Utah in Modern Dance. Before SLC, she lived in ND, dancing and serving as Outreach Coordinator for Northern Plains Dance. She also has a B.F.A. in Theatre/Dance from the University of Wyoming. Carly is an adjunct for Salt Lake Community College, and Westminster College, and teaches Modern and Ballet at Wasatch Arts Center. She teaches Dance for Parkinson's for UofU's Skagg's Wellness Center and RDT. She has choreographed for Deseret Experimental Opera, Snow College, and Cache Valley Civic Ballet, Northern Plains Dance and teaches Baroque and Renaissance dance. Carly directs Dance Balletti, an early Ballet reconstruction ensemble and she also dances with Municipal Ballet.
bio coming soon
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Deborah Siddoway has been designing, creating, and fitting costumes for Lyrical Opera Theater for over 10 years. A lifelong seamstress and classically trained soprano, she has also performed in operas and concerts with the company. Her roles include Kate Pinkerton and Mama in Madama Butterfly and chorus in Carmen, Falstaff, La Traviata, and Tosca. She has soloed in concerts locally and internationally, including the Japan/Utah sister city Gala, and enjoys bringing music to senior living centers.
Daniel Perez has served as Wigs & Makeup Artist for Lyrical Opera Theater for 4 years and is also a lead artist at Hale Center Theatre, where he designs, styles, and creates wigs. Originally from Mexico and now based in Provo, Daniel is a tenor studying with Isaac Hurtado at Utah Valley University. He has performed leading roles with Lyrical Opera Theater, including Pinkerton, Cavaradossi, and Rodolfo, and recently appeared at the Mediterranean Opera Festival in Sicily. Daniel also performs with Utah Opera and the Utah Symphony.
Lyrical Opera Products, Inc. creates high-quality orchestral accompaniment tracks for entire operas, arias, and ensembles—available with or without chorus—under its D.B.A., Classical Karaoke. These tracks allow singers to rehearse or perform with the richness of a full orchestra anytime, anywhere, without the high cost. Used worldwide via YouTube, the tracks bring professional-level support to soloists, companies, and educators. In addition, Lyrical Opera Products offers stage directions, projection scenery, costumes, and scenic elements for full opera productions, helping make opera more accessible and affordable for everyone.
Premiered: 1853
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave
La Traviata is one of the most cherished and emotionally powerful operas ever composed. Premiering in 1853, Giuseppe Verdi transformed Alexandre Dumas fils' novel and play La Dame aux Camélias into a deeply human story of love, sacrifice, and redemption. Unlike many operas of its era filled with kings, myths, and historical heroes, La Traviata centers on ordinary people facing extraordinary emotional choices.
The opera follows Violetta Valéry, a celebrated Parisian courtesan who unexpectedly discovers true love with the young Alfredo Germont. Determined to leave behind her glittering but empty social life, she dreams of a future built on sincerity and devotion. However, the expectations of society—and Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont—force Violetta into a heartbreaking decision that changes all of their lives forever.
At its heart, La Traviata asks timeless questions: Can love overcome prejudice? How much are we willing to sacrifice for those we care about? And can compassion triumph over society's judgment?
| Character | Voice Type | Role Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Violetta Valéry | Soprano | Brilliant, vulnerable, and courageous; one of opera's most demanding and beloved heroines |
| Alfredo Germont | Tenor | Romantic and impulsive; a young man whose devotion is tested by pride and misunderstanding |
| Giorgio Germont | Baritone | Dignified and protective; a father whose sense of duty leads to unexpected compassion |
| Annina | Soprano | Violetta's loyal maid and devoted companion through her darkest hours |
| Gastone | Tenor | Charming and sociable; the friend who first introduces Alfredo to Violetta |
Verdi's score is filled with melodies that capture every shade of human emotion. Violetta's dazzling Act I aria, "Sempre libera" ("Always Free"), showcases her struggle between independence and the possibility of love. Alfredo's heartfelt toast, "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" ("The Drinking Song"), has become one of the most recognizable melodies in all of opera, while Germont's aria, "Di Provenza il mar, il suol," expresses a father's love and longing for reconciliation.
From glittering Parisian salons to moments of intimate tenderness and devastating tragedy, the music of La Traviata guides audiences through one of opera's most unforgettable emotional journeys.
Lyrical Opera Theater proudly presents La Traviata—a timeless masterpiece that reminds us that behind every public face lies a deeply human heart capable of profound love and extraordinary sacrifice.
Whether this is your first opera or your fiftieth, may Verdi's soaring melodies move you, deepen your compassion, and leave you reflecting on the enduring power of love, forgiveness, and grace.
The action takes place in Paris and its surrounding countryside during the mid-nineteenth century. Amid glittering salons and strict social expectations, a celebrated courtesan discovers true love and is forced to choose between personal happiness and selfless sacrifice.
Act 1, Part 1 – Violetta's salon: Parisian courtesan Violetta Valéry hosts a lavish party as she recovers from a recent illness. Among her guests is Alfredo Germont, a young man who has long admired her from afar. Encouraged by their friend Gastone, Alfredo proposes a toast celebrating love and pleasure. As the festivities continue, Alfredo confesses his sincere devotion to Violetta and urges her to embrace a life built on genuine affection rather than fleeting amusements. Left alone, Violetta struggles between her desire for freedom and the possibility of true love.
Act 2, Part 1 – A country home near Paris: Violetta and Alfredo have begun a happy life together in the countryside. Alfredo discovers that Violetta has secretly been selling her possessions to support their household. While Alfredo travels to Paris to resolve their financial concerns, his father, Giorgio Germont, visits Violetta. Concerned that the scandal surrounding their relationship threatens his family's reputation and his daughter's future marriage, Germont pleads with Violetta to leave Alfredo. Though heartbroken, she agrees to sacrifice her own happiness for Alfredo's sake and departs without revealing the true reason.
Act 2, Part 2 – Flora's party: Believing himself betrayed, Alfredo follows Violetta to a lavish gathering hosted by Flora. In a fit of jealousy and humiliation, he publicly denounces Violetta before the assembled guests. Germont arrives and condemns his son's cruel behavior, while Alfredo begins to realize the depth of Violetta's suffering. Overcome with shame and regret, he longs to make amends.
Act 3 – Violetta's chamber: Gravely ill and weakened by tuberculosis, Violetta reflects on her lost hopes and prepares for the end of her life. Germont has revealed the truth to Alfredo, who rushes to her side seeking forgiveness and dreaming of a future they might still share. Their joyful reunion is heartbreakingly brief. Surrounded by those who finally recognize her goodness and devotion, Violetta experiences a final moment of renewed strength before peacefully passing away.
La Traviata is a poignant reminder that true nobility is found not in social standing, but in compassion, forgiveness, and the willingness to sacrifice for those we love. Violetta's courage and humanity continue to move audiences more than 170 years after Verdi first brought her story to the stage.
La Traviata was composed by Giuseppe Verdi in 1853, with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave based on Alexandre Dumas fils' La Dame aux Camélias. Initially controversial for portraying contemporary society and a courtesan as its heroine, the opera soon became one of Verdi's greatest triumphs. Its unforgettable melodies, deeply human characters, and timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption have secured its place among the most beloved operas in the world.
We exist because of the thousands of hours of volunteer efforts, the gifts differently abled individuals bring to us and to the often overlooked, undervalued and undercompensated contributions of every kind. Therefore, out of respect for all donors, they are not categorized or distinquished differently.