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La Traviata

Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas fils
Opened on March 6, 1853 in Venice

Synopsis

Act I

The story begins in Paris near 1850, in Violetta Valery's home. She is a young lady of extraordinary beauty, and she conducts a lustful life. A great party is going on. Violetta seems happy and thoughtless, but she's secretly suffering from tubercolosis, and she unbosoms to her friend Flora Bervoix, telling her to be seriously worried about her health. One of the guests, Viscount Gastone, introduces to Violetta a dear friend of his, Alfredo Gérmont, a young man who is secretly fond of Violetta. At the end of the dinner everyone hails for a toast. Alfredo is invited to celebrate wine and love. He does it, and his joy is contagious: all the guest repeat his words (Libiam ne' lieti calici). But a little later Violetta, feeling bad at once, runs to a separate room: Alfredo, instead of taking part to the dance, remains with her, and declares his love to her (Un dì felice eterea). Violetta is struck by Alfredo's words, and gives him a Camellia, her favourite flower: she invites him to return when the flower will be withered. Then all the guests greet dawn (Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora) and leave Violetta's home. When alone, she wonders anxiously about the ardent and truthful love confession by Alfredo (È strano…ah fors'è lui). But her condition doesn't allow a real love (Follie, follie) : she lives as a courtesan, and this low morals' life is the sole remedy to her illness (Sempre libera degg'io). In the meantime, Alfredo from the street echoes Violetta's words with a himn to love, "croce e delizia", intensifying Traviata's doubts.

Act II

Scene one

Violetta has surrended to her feelings for Alfredo, and she's living with him, far from the noise of Paris' life. Alfredo now feels really happy (De' miei bollenti spiriti), but he soon has to face economic problems: Violetta sells her jewels, and Alfredo leaves for Paris in search of money. Violetta is visited by Giorgio Gérmont, Alfredo's father, who tries to persuade her to end her love affair with Alfredo. Alfredo's life with a near-prostitute is creating scandal, and his sister risks to be left by her future husband (Pura siccome un angelo). Violetta is moved, and promises to Gérmont that his request will be satisfied (Dite alla giovine) . Alfredo returns from Paris while Violetta is writing a letter of farewell to him. He notices her strange behaviour and questions Violetta, who reveals having met Alfredo's father, then she leaves swearing him eternal love and preaching him to continue loving her forever (Amami Alfredo). When Alfredo realizes that Violetta and Annina are going to Paris to take part to a party at Flora's home, he falls in a deep state of desperation. His father comes again to mitigate his bad feelings, remembering his family in Provence (Di Provenza il mare il suol), but with no effect. Alfredo feels quite crazy, and leaves for Paris.

Scene two

In Flora's palace the masked part is happily going on, with matadors and gipsies. Alfredo arrives and sits down trying to devise his embarassment, while Violetta arrives accompanied by her old lover, Baron Douphol. Alfredo goes on winning at the game table. Douphol challenges Alfredo at a card game and loses: the situation becames hot. Violetta calls Alfredo and tells him a sad lie: she is seriously tied with the Baron. Alfredo goes mad, and in front of the other guests he throws at Violetta's feet a bag full of money, saying to eveybody that that was the price for Violetta's mercenary love (Questa donna… qui pagata io l'ho) . Violetta faints, and Baron Douphol challenges Alfredo: there will be a duel.

Act III

In Violetta's bedroom in Paris. Violetta is dying of consumption. Annina assists her faithfully. The doctor simulates a false hope of future recovery, but tells to Annina that "la tisi non le accorda che poche ore". Violetta reads again and again a letter from Alfredo's father. In that letter Gérmont writes her that the duel took place, the Baron was wounded but he's recovering, and that Alfredo's father has revealed to his son Violetta's terrible sacrifice: Alfredo is returning to her. Violetta, feeling that her end is near, hopes that Alfredo will arrive in time. While in Paris' streets the joy of Carnival explodes, Violetta sadly remembers her past (Addio del passato). But soon Annina runs into and announces that Alfredo has arrived: he rushes in, and holds Violetta with incredible love in his arms. She feels the life returning to her, and they dream of living together forever, far from Paris (Parigi o cara). But Violetta is dying (Gran Dio morir sì giovine) . Alfredo's father arrives and asks mercy to Violetta. She forgives him, and feeling better she tries to get up. But that is the last sad illusion: at once she falls and dies like a withered flower on the sofa.

Synopsis by Laura Bandiziol

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