La Traviata
Fun Facts!
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"La Traviata" translates to “The Fallen Woman”
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The libretto (text) was written by Francesco Maria Piave
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The opera was based on a play, La dame aux Camélias (1852), which was adapted from a novel by Alexandre Dumas
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Moulin Rouge is based on La Traviata
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The premier failed because the woman who played Violetta was “too old (38) and too fat” and people did not believe that she could be a courtesan or be suffering from tuberculosis (which makes one lose a significant amount of weight)
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La Traviata was originally going to be named either “Amore e more” (Love and death) or “Violetta”
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Verdi and Piave wanted to set the opera in present time, but the producers believed that it wouldn’t sell
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It is now one of the most widely performed operas in the world!
Highlights
"Sempre Libera" (Always Free)
"Brindisi" (The Drinking Song)
Final Scene
Plot Summary
Act 1
The opera begins at a Paris party in the mid 1800s. Violetta, the most popular high-class courtesan, is celebrating her health after overcoming a serious illness. She is introduced to Alfredo, a young man who has admired Violetta for a long time. Alfredo sings one of the most famous songs of the opera, “Brindisi”, as a toast to Violetta. At the end of the song, Alfredo tells Violetta of his feelings for her. She is hesitant to love due to her occupation, but takes a liking to Alfredo because of his simplicity. They sing “Sempre Libera” as Violetta struggles with her conflicting emotions. By the end of the aria, Alfredo wins Violetta over and carries her away.
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Act 2
Act 2 begins in the home of Alfredo and Violetta, now in the suburbs away from their past in Paris. Violetta has sold their horses and many of their belongings as they are struggling financially. When Alfredo finds out that she has done this, he goes to Paris to try to make things right. While he is gone, Alfredo’s father comes to visit. He confronts Violetta, telling her that the relationship between Alfredo and herself is damaging to the family. Their relationship has put pressure on the marriage plans of Alfredo’s sister, as many know of Violetta’s past. Violetta is conflicted, but decides to leave Alfredo in order to appease his family. She recognizes the difficulties that are presented by her former career and how Alfredo’s family is affected by her past. Alfredo returns home, but Violetta is overcome with grief and cannot find the words to tell him why she is leaving. Alfredo comes to the assumption that she has cheated on him, and goes back to Paris that night to follow her and find out what has happened. Violetta attends a party that night and is accompanied by the Baron, a former patron. Alfredo see’s this and assumes that she has left him for the Baron and publically shames her. The act ends in cacophony, as Alfredo and the Baron quarrel, many scold Alfredo for dishonoring Violetta, and party goers try to remove Violetta from the scene.
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Act 3
The final act opens with Violetta in bed, very sick with Tuberculosis. It appears that she had never healed from her illness in the first place. Alfredo’s father recounts to Alfredo what he told Violetta about the troubles she had caused the family. He explains that this is the real reason that Violetta left. Alfredo is distraught and rushes off to Paris to beg for forgiveness from Violetta. He finds her and comes to her bedside. They make up and decide that she will return home with him to stay together for life, but it is too late. As they reminisce about old times, Violetta passes away.