La Traviata

La traviata, an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, takes as its basis the novel La dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils, published in 1848. First performance: Teatro la Fenice, Venice, March 6, 1853. The title means literally The Woman who Strayed, or perhaps more poetically The Lost One.

Plot

:Place: Paris and vicinity.

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:Time: about 1700. (Many modern producers of La traviata set the opera in the 1850s.)

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Violetta Valery, a famed courtesan, throws a party at her Parisian abode. Coming late to the party, Gaston, a count, has brought with him his friend, Alfredo Germont, who has longed for a year to meet Violetta. Alfredo, upon introduction to Violetta, expresses his concern for her failing health and later declares his love for her. Violetta rejects him but gives him a camellia, telling him to return when the flower has wilted. After the guests leave, Violetta contemplates the possibility of a real relationship with true love, but finally rejects the notion. She needs freedom to live life, night and day, from one pleasure to another.

Related Topics:
Camellia - Life

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A few months later, Alfredo and Violetta together lead an idyllic existence in a country house outside of Paris — it seems Violetta has fallen in love with Alfredo, despite her earlier intentions. She has completely abandoned her former life. Alfredo discovers, however, that Violetta has sold all of her belongings in order to support this country life, so he rushes to Paris to rectify the situation. In Alfredo's absence, his father comes to Violetta and tells her that their relationship has destroyed Alfredo's future and the fortunes of his sister (her reputation as a courtesan has compromised the Germont name). With growing remorse she listens to the pathetic words of the older Germont and, through his influence, leaves her love, giving as explanation a desire for her old, wild existence. In order to drown her grief, she plunges more deeply than ever into dissipation. Alfredo confronts her at a lavish party and disgraces her by throwing money — the money he feels he owes her for her services rendered while they lived together in the country — at her (Alfredo does not know of Germont's visit and thinks that Violetta has left because she loves another). Violetta, overcome with sickness and sorrow, faints. Baron Duophal, Violetta's escort, challenges Alfredo to a duel while Violetta regains her strength and pleads her love for Alfredo.

Related Topics:
Idyl - Duel

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A few months after the party, a bout of tuberculosis (or "consumption" in 19th-century opera vernacular) has confined Violetta to her bed. Old Germont sends her a letter stating that he has informed Alfredo of the sacrifice Violetta made for Alfredo and his sister. Alfredo (still alive after wounding the Baron in a duel), hastens to her side, understanding at last that Violetta had sacrificed herself for his sake, and begs her forgiveness. She dies in his arms.

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