Verdi's La Traviata announced as Hawke's Bay Festival Opera's headline performance

David Harper (left) with Taylor Wallbank at the official launch of La Traviata, the next Festival Opera. Photo / File

Three internationally acclaimed opera singers will perform in La Traviata as part of next year's Festival Opera.

La Traviata, an opera by Giuseppe Verdi, is a love story shrouded in sacrifice and misunderstanding.

Verdi's heroine will be brought to life by the Polish soprano Anna Patalong who will play the lead role of Violetta.

While, Pavarotti-trained New Zealand tenor Shaun Dixon will play Alfredo, Violetta's love interest and Australian baritone Peter Coleman-Wright is to play the role of Germont, Alfredo's father.

Festival Opera creative director Anna Pierard said they strive to raise the bar with each performance and are "thrilled to have such a stellar cast and artistic team for La Traviata".

Now in it's sixth showcase, the festival was founded by Pierard and Sarah Warmsley to not only bring world-class performances onto the region's stages but to also cultivate local singing talent in Hawke's Bay by partnering with the Prima Volta Charitable Trust.

La Traviata will provide an opportunity for Project Prima Volta students to work alongside award-winning opera performers as they take on chorus roles.

"It is such a unique opportunity for these young performers to gain advice and guidance from our staring performers. For many in PPV, this production is the exciting finish-line of the Project Prima Volta programme, before they head off to University," Anna said.

New Zealand Soprano, Milla Dickens will take on the role of Flora, Violetta's confidante.

This is Milla's second appearance with Festival Opera, having previously performed in the Elixir of Love in 2015.

Scotsman John Leo Wilkie will be the stage director.

Festival Opera's La Traviata season is presented as part of the Tremains Art Deco Festival, with four performances at the Napier Municipal Theatre on the February 12,14,16-18, 2019.

Tickets are onsale now from www.ticketek.co.nz.
For further details visit: www.festivalopera.co.nz