Love and sacrifice; passion and tragedy.

The formula that drew more than several thousand people to watch Skagit Opera’s February production of “La Bohéme” should once again bring out the crowds for the company’s upcoming production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” on Oct. 10, 13, 17 and 19 at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon.

After all, the three-act “La Traviata” (translated: the fallen one) is the third-most performed opera in America, just behind “Madama Butterfly” and “La Bohéme,” according to Opera America.

That popularity is why Skagit Opera chose to produce it this season, said Ron Wohl, the company’s general manager.

“We are really trying to more fully develop our audience, and we need to put on shows that are traditionally more popular,” Wohl said.

And what’s not to enjoy about “La Traviata”? It’s the traditional tragic soap-opera written by Giuseppe Verdi, with Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and performed for the first time in 1853 in Venice.

The story surrounds the lovely courtesan, Violetta, who lives a passionate, fun-filled life but suffers from a debilitating case of tuberculosis.

At a party to celebrate her recovery from a recent bout of consumption, Violetta is introduced to the young, charming and wealthy nobleman Alfredo, who has admired her from afar.

The two fall in passionate love. But, as is always the case in tragic stories, that love is soon thwarted by Alfredo’s father, who worries that his son’s relationship with the beautiful Violetta is ruining the family reputation.

The joys, elation and sorrow are all told through some of Verdi’s most well-known music: the lilting “Amami, Alfredo” and “Un dì, felice, eterea” and the uplifting “Libiamo ne’lieti calici.” Much of the music has permeated American culture, backing television commercials and scenes of feature films.

“This is an example of some of Verdi’s most simple and yet most beautiful (music) writing,” said Morgan Smith, an opera singer from Seattle who portrays Alfredo’s concerned father, Giorgio Germont. Smith has garnered plenty of praise for past performances with the Seattle Opera, Portland Opera, San Francisco Opera and more.

Verdi’s music may be beautiful, but it’s been somewhat of a challenge for Smith, a baritone, who said much of his character’s songs are sung at the high end of the baritone range.

Leslie Mauldin, who portrays the plucky and passionate Violetta, tackles her own challenge, deftly singing her way through three distinctly different styles of music based on the emotional and passionate roller coaster of her character’s life.

Violetta spends much of her time on stage, demanding plenty of vocal stamina from whoever portrays the character, Wohl said.

“It’s a complex role that requires a voice that can do many things,” Wohl said. “It also requires someone who can act well.”

Mauldin, who lives in Boise, Idaho, has portrayed Violetta twice before and is thrilled to jump into her shoes again.

“She’s one of the most real female characters in opera,” Mauldin said. “There’s really no pretense to Violetta. When she falls in love, it’s so unexpected, but she gives herself so over to it.”

The characters, story and music are especially accessible to audiences around the world, Wohl said. Audiences don’t have to understand the libretto to comprehend the story.

That’s part of the reason Skagit Opera will perform “La Traviata” in original Italian with English subtitles that will be projected on a screen above the stage.

The success of performing “La Bohéme” in Italian prompted Wohl to consider moving away from English translations. The opera company sold about 86 percent of the seats for the four shows.

For “La Traviata,” audiences also can expect to see colorful period costumes, rented from the Utah Opera Company, and a relatively minimal set that the company built.

“This tends to be an opera that people don’t go overboard with the details of the set,” Wohl said.

Besides, the audience will be more interested in the luscious music and talent onstage, he said.

“They have such beautiful stuff to sing,” Wohl said.