Coming home from the UK for his first performance in Verdi's La Traviata, is baritone Phillip Rhodes. He's had a hectic twelve months since last year's star turn as Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca for New Zealand Opera and now has to age up to play the older Germont opposite Madeleine Pierard as Violetta. New Zealand Opera's La Traviata opens in Christchurch tonight.