La traviata

Lead Donor of the GNO

Sponsor of the tribute to Nikos S. Petropoulos

The Greek National Opera concludes the 2025/26 season with Giuseppe Verdi’s emblematic opera La traviata in Nikos S. Petropoulos’ historical staging, which will return to the GNO twenty-five years after its debut at the Olympia Theatre, following a successful tour to China and Thessaloniki. The production will make its debut at the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the GNO at the SNFCC, marking the launch of a new chapter in summer opera performances, held in the ideal conditions of an air-conditioned venue. The revival of Verdi’s much-loved opera is part of a tribute to the renowned Greek opera director and set and costume designer Nikos S. Petropoulos.

La traviata is one of Giuseppe Verdi’s most prominent achievements and among the most popular works in the history of opera. Its premiere at the Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice in 1853 has often been cited as one of the biggest failures in operatic history. ‘La traviata was a fiasco; spare yourself from finding an excuse, it’s just how it is’, wrote Verdi to his publisher, Tito Ricordi, the following day. A century and a half later, this Verdian masterpiece is hailed as one of the most popular works in the repertoire, with hundreds of performances each year at the world’s greatest opera houses, drawing thousands of spectators who are moved by both the dramatic power of Verdi’s music and the deeply humane aspect of the heroine’s story.

Based on Alexandros Dumas fils’ play La Dame aux camélias (The Lady of the Camellias), the opera tells the story of Violetta Valéry, a famous Parisian courtesan who finds true love with the son of a respectable bourgeois family in Paris. Their relationship, however, provokes a reaction from the young man’s family, leading to the couple’s forced breakup and ultimately to their heartwrenching reunion, shortly before Violetta draws her last breath. In La traviata, Verdi weaves one of the most intricate and poignant psychological portraits in the history of opera, with music that constantly evolves to reflect Violetta’s inner world and shifts in mental state.

In Act I, hedonistic sexual freedom and the glamorous yet decadent Paris atmosphere are depicted through virtuosic music that demands exceptional vocal skills from the soprano performing the title role. In Act II, the serenity of country life and the heroine’s profound emotions are conveyed by a warm, lyrical soprano voice, while in the final act, the tragic ending of the couple’s thwarted love and the imminent loss are underscored by dark vocal tones that express the heroine’s anguish, despair, and surrender.

Nikos S. Petropoulos offers us a unique portrayal of 19th-century France, recreating Violetta Valéry’s world with unmatched care and aesthetic refinement. The stunning sets and costumes, absolutely faithful to the work’s spirit and time, bring out both the heroine’s luxurious residence in Paris and the serenity of her home in the countryside, in the French capital’s suburbs. Through his staging, Petropoulos highlights the work’s timelessness, striking a balance between the characters’ theatrical grandeur and human sensitivity. The revival is directed by Ion Kesoulis, with choreography by Dimitra Svigkou and lighting revival by Christos Tziogkas.

The Orchestra of the Greek National Opera will be conducted by the prominent conductor and artistic director of the Athens State Orchestra, Lukas Karytinos, while the GNO Chorus has been coached by Agathangelos Georgakatos.

For La traviata, the Greek National Opera has secured an outstanding cast of renowned Greek protagonists, underscoring its vital role in enhancing and promoting domestic opera talent.

Violetta Valéry’s role will be shared by Vassiliki Karayanni and Dimitra Kotidou. Internationally acclaimed soprano Vassiliki Karayanni, who has already performed the title role to tremendous acclaim in China, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and in the Athens and Thessaloniki Concert Halls, ranks among the most important Greek opera artists of her generation. Having starred in Greek National Opera productions for many years, she has also performed at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, festivals, and concert halls, including the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Komische Oper Berlin. The exceptional soprano Dimitra Kotidou, who portrayed Violetta during the production’s tour to China, returns to the Stavros Niarchos Hall, following her participation in Barry Kosky’s production of Die Zauberflöte in 2018. She has performed leading roles at some of the world’s most important opera houses and festivals, including the Hanover State Opera, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the Bern Theatre, the Komische Oper Berlin, the Aalto Theatre in Essen, the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, the Eutin Festival, and the Athens Epidaurus Festival.

Alfredo will be portrayed by Yannis Christopoulos and Konstantinos Klironomos, who also shared the role during the production’s international tour to China in September 2025. Prominent tenor Yannis Christopoulos, one of the most acclaimed Greek tenors of his generation, returns to the GNO stage as Alfredo, following his successful role debut as Lord Riccardo Percy in Anna Bolena during the 2025/26 season. Celebrated tenor Konstantinos Klironomos will perform once again at the GNO, following his remarkable portrayal of Rodolfo in the 2024/25 season’s production of La bohème, directed by Graham Vick.

The role of Giorgio Germont will be shared by Tassis Christoyannis and Dionysios Sourbis. The prominent baritone and artistic director of the Olympia City Music Theatre ‘Maria Callas’, Tassis Christoyannis, has been starring in Greek National Opera productions since 1989, and regularly appears at some of the world’s most prestigious theatres, including the Opéra Comique, the Opéra national de Paris, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and the Royal Opera House in London. Distinguished baritone Dionysios Sourbis, who delighted audiences as Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen and as Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff during the 2025/26 season, returns to the Stavros Niarchos Hall to deliver a unique performance as Giorgio Germont.

The cast is completed by celebrated and emerging Greek performers Marissia Papalexiou, Chrysanthi Spitadi, Julia Souglakou, Sofia Kyanidou, Yannis Kalyvas, Nicolas Maraziotis, Maxim Klonovskiy, Christos Rammopoulos, Nikos Kotenidis, Sotiris Triantis, Marios Sarantidis, Georgios Papadimitriou, Nikos Katsigiannis, Antonis Antoniadis, Ioannis Kontellis, and Vassilis Dimakopoulos.

Fully accessible performances
The performances of the opera La traviata will will be fully accessible on the 24th & 26th of July 2026, providing an inclusive audiovisual experience for all audiences. In this context, there will be designated seats for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and use Greek Sign Language, places for those who rely on captions (CAPS) covering the entire audio channel, as well as seats for individuals who are blind or have limited access to the visual channel of communication and use the audio description (AD) service. Guide dogs for the visually impaired will also be permitted.
Audience members who wish to use the accessibility services are requested to purchase their tickets at the GNO Box Office, over the phone at 2130885700, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The full accessibility services for this production are included in the accessibility initiative cycle Altogether at the Opera, implemented with the support of Alpha Bank, as part of its Corporate Responsibility Initiative Culture for All.