“La Traviata” is based upon the Alexandre Dumas novel, Dame aux Camelias. This opera was first produced in Venice in March of 1853. It is interesting to note that while working on “La Traviata,” Verdi was also deep into the production of “Il Trovatore.” In fact, “La Traviata” was written with barely more than four weeks actual work! This fact serves to illustrate the genius of the man; to devote so little time on the project, to be involved in the production of another opera at the same time, and still to have produced such beauty is truly testament to his spirit and talent.

The two operas can hardly be compared. “Il Trovatore” is filled with the passions of love, hatred, vengance, and its settings reverberate with the castle, dungeon, palace theme. “La Traviata” plays out in the drawing room and is therefore more gracious, gentle, and sorrowful. In Traviata we have one of the great heroines of literature, Dumas’ frail Marguerite Gauthier. The plot line is love, sacrifice, loss, love again found so often evident in the classic love stories down through the ages.

Briefly: The opera opens in a salon in the home of the lovely courtesan Violetta Valery. The first solo is Alfred’s spirited drinking song (Libiamo) which Violetta echos. When she is seized by a coughing spell, Alfred stays with her and is solicitous of her. It is apparent from the beginning that her lifestyle has already threatened her health. Violetta falls in love with the dashing Alfred Germont when he offers his unconditional love to her as he sings “One day a rapture ethereal…” She is touched beyond anything she has yet encountered in her life, and agrees to give up her lifestyle and retire to the countryside with her lover.

Act II begins as Alfred sings his joy in Violetta, “Di miei bollenti spiriti” (Wild my dreams of ecstasy). However, then he finds that their lifestyle has been partially subsidized by Violetta. Alfred sets off for Paris to redeem the property she has sold to support them. While he is gone, his father arrives to plead with Violetta to release his son. His daughter’s alliance is being threatened by the relationship being shared by Alfred and Violetta. She agrees and leaves Alfred, singing “Morro-la mia memoria (I shall die-but may my memory).

When Alfred returns to find her gone, his father sings “Di Provenza il mar, il suol chi dal corti cancello” (From fair Provence’s sea and soil, who had won thy heart away) as he holds his son to comfort his grief.

Violetta throws herself back into her former life, further damaging her health. Alfred finds her in Flora’s palace. He engages in games of chance at which he wins great sums of money. When Violetta enters on the arm of a former suitor, he throws the money at her feet whereupon she faints. She rouses herself to sing, “Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core non puoi comprendere totto l’amoure” (Alfred, Alfred, little cans’t thou fathom the love within my heart for thee).

Later Violetta and Alfred’s love is encouraged by the elder Germont, but alas too late. As she hears the revelers of the carnival in the streets, Violetta knows she is about to die. Alfred comes to her and they sing “Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo” (We shall fly from Paris, beloved). But she is dying: “Gran Dio! Morir si giovane” (O God! To die so young.) La Traviata is dead….

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