La Traviata in Concert

Portland Opera brings Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata to the Keller Auditorium on November 6 and 8, 2026. This is a concert performance, which means it's stripped of the sets and costumes you'd see in a fully staged production. Instead, the focus stays on the music: the Portland Opera Orchestra and Chorus perform the work on stage, with the libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. If you've ever seen La Traviata before, this is a different way to experience it—just the singing and the orchestra, nothing else to distract from the score.

The production is part of the company's 'Keep Portland Operatic' campaign, and it fits into the broader 2026-27 season, titled 'Driven by Vision.' That season brings together three productions centered on resilience, reinvention, and self-determination, all led by Artistic Director Alfrelynn Roberts. There's also a visual side to the season: a collaboration with Portland artist Jeremy Okai Davis, whose pointillist portraits of overlooked Black historical figures run through the programming. It's a good bit of context to keep in mind if you're following the whole season.

As for the music itself, La Traviata is one of Verdi's most famous works, and it's cited as one of the major inspirations for Moulin Rouge, so you'll likely recognize some of the melodies even if you've never stepped foot in an opera house. The concert format lets the orchestra and chorus take center stage, which is a nice way to hear the music without the distraction of a full set.

Tickets run from $31 to $153, and the performances are November 6 and 8 at the Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St, Portland, OR 97201. It's the company's largest venue, seating nearly 3,000 guests and home to their grandest productions as well as Broadway in Portland; it was built in 1917, renovated in 1968, and is owned by Portland'5 Center for the Arts.