Overview
Synopsis
In one of the greatest operatic love stories, Violetta Valery, a courtesan serving Paris’s high society meets the young Alfredo Germont, who offers her a taste of freedom from this life. Alfredo first met Violetta when she was suffering badly from consumption, and on visiting her every day, his initial affection for her turned into love. He offers her the chance to escape this life and live with him.
Violetta accepts, and they enjoy a dreamy romance in the countryside. However, Violetta receives a visit from Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont. He asks Violetta to end the relationship and leave Alfredo, so that the Germont family’s honor might be restored and his daughter’s marriage will be able to go ahead. Violetta loves Alfredo and does not want to leave him, but she makes the sacrifice and returns to her old life.
Alfredo knows nothing of the arrangement with his father, and believes Violetta has left him for financial reasons, and returned to her old relationship with Barone Douphol. He finds her in Paris, and makes an awful scene throwing money at her feet in payment for their relationship. Douphol challenges Alfredo to duel for disgracing Violetta, after which Alfredo travels abroad.
As Violetta’s illness worsens, she becomes basically bedbound, and is sustained only by the promise that Alfredo will one day return to her. Germont revealed their arrangement to his son, and has written to Violetta to tell her that Alfredo will visit. In the last moments of her life, she is reunited with the man she loves, and dies, smiling, in his arms.
Show Information
- Music
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Libretto
- Francesco Maria Piave
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- La dame aux Camélias, a play by Alexandre Dumas
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1853
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Tragedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Period
- Time & Place
- paris, france, 18th century
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Originally titled Violetta after the main character, La Traviata (which can be translated as “The Fallen Woman”) was based on Alexandre Dumas's play, La dame aux Camélias. While visiting Paris, Verdi saw a performance of the play and was immediately inspired to write the music for La Traviata. Verdi worked closely with librettist Francesco Maria Piave to form a new and exciting version of the play, hoping to show audiences something that had never been done in opera.
After having
to read the context for La Traviata and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Violetta Valéry, a courtesan, is hosting an exquisite party to celebrate her recovery from a long illness. Gastone, one of Violetta's friends, introduces her to Alfredo Germont, and explains that, while Violetta does not remember, Alfredo actually visited every day through her illness. Such affection is unusual for Violetta and she is touched, as a nervous Alfredo finally introduces himself to her. She thanks Alfredo for his attention, and comments that it was more than Barone
to read the plot for La Traviata and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- Chorus 'Dell’invito trasvorsa è già l’ora' - Flora, Violetta, Alfredo, Gastone, Chorus
- Brindisi 'Libiamo ne’ lieti calici' - Alfredo, Violetta, Chorus
- Duet 'Non gradireste ora le danze' - Violetta, Alfredo, Chorus
- Chorus 'Si ridesta in ciel' - Chorus
- Recit and Aria 'È strano… Ah, forsè lui… Sempre libera' - Violetta
Act Two
Scene 1
- Recit and Aria 'Dei miei bollenti spiriti ... O mio rimorso' - Alfredo, Annina
- Recit and Duet 'Pure siccome un angelo' - Violetta, Annina, Germont
- Recit 'Dammi tu forza, o cielo' - Violetta, Annina
- Recit and Aria 'Di Provenza il mar' - Giorgio, Alfredo, Giuseppe, Commissioner
Scene 2
- Finale 'Avrem lieta di maschere la notte' - Marchese d’Obigny, Flora, Dottore Grenvil, Chorus
- Gypsy Chorus 'Noi siamo zingarelle' - Flora, Marchese, Dottore Grenvil, Chorus
- Matadors Chorus 'Di Madride, noi siam mattadori' - Gastone, Flora Dottore Grenvil, Marchese, Chorus
- Scene 'Alfredo! Voi' - Alfredo, Flora, Barone, Violetta, Marchese, Servant, Chorus
- Finale 'Di sprezzo degno se stesso rende' - Germont, Alfredo, Flora, Gastone, Barone, Violetto, Dottore Grenvil, Marchese
Act Three
- Recit and Aria 'Addio, del passato' - Violetta, Annina, Dottore Grenvil
- Bacchanale 'Largo al quadrupe' - Chorus
- Recit and Duet 'Parigi, o cara' - Annina, Violetta, Alfredo
- Finale 'Prendi, quest’è l’immagine' - Germont, Violetta, Alfredo, Annina, Dottore Grenvil
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.