What could be better than Verdi’s most beloved opera to open the 2009 Festival Season? How about Natalie Dessay in her first-ever performances as Violetta! This quintessential story of passionate young love, separation, and reconciliation receives an all-new staging led by the director / designer team of Laurent Pelly and Chantal Thomas. Alfredo will be sung by Saimir Pirgu, with Laurent Naouri and Anthony Michaels-Moore sharing the role of Germont.