La Traviata - Verdi Opera

Giuseppe Verdi's Tragic Opera Introduced

Jan 21, 2007 Bryce Westervelt

La Traviata Giuseppe Verdi, la traviata opera, La traviata plot summary, La traviata, characters, La traviata information, La Traviata cd recording recommendations.

Giuseppe Verdi’s beloved opera La Traviata or “The fallen woman” is one of the most produced operas of all time. Hundreds of performances of Traviata seen around the world each year. La Traviata is an opera in 4 acts, though often played in 3, as a combination of acts 2 and 3 into one. It premiered in Venice in 1853. The italian libretto is based on Alexandre Dumas's La Dame aux Camélias and is written by Francesco Maria Piave. The original premiere of the work was initially considered a “fiasco” by Verdi himself. He reworked a portion of the original opera. The revised work was first performed in 1854, and was well received.

La Traviata Main Characters:

  • Violetta Valery, a courtesan (soprano)
  • Alfredo Gérmont, young nobleman (tenor)
  • Giorgio Gérmont, his father (baritone)

La Traviata Plot Summary:

  • Act I - Violetta, a French courtesan who is throwing a party to celebrate the recovery from illness, meets the nobleman Alfredo through the count Gaston. Alfredo proclaims his love for her, but she initially rejects him. She gives him a flower and tells him to return to her when it has wilted. After the guests have left, she contemplates falling in love with Alfredo, but rejects the notion.
  • Act II - Several months later, Violetta has fallen in love with Alfredo. They have moved to the country, outside of Paris. The have lived off of her riches, and Alfredo learns that they now have nothing. Alfredo returns to Paris to try to fix this situation and raise money. While Alfredo is gone, Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont, convinces Violetta that she has ruined his son and that she must leave.
  • Act III - Alfredo publicly insults Violetta at a party thinking that she has left him for another man by throwing the money that he has won in Paris at her feat. A weak Violetta faints. Alfredo is challenged to a duel. Violetta regains consciousness and pleads her love to Alfredo.
  • Act IV - A few months later, Violetta is bed ridden with tuberculosis. Germont sends Alfredo a note explaining Violetta’s sacrifice for him. Alfredo returns from exile. She dies in his arms.

Some recommended La Traviata recordings on cds:

  • EMI, Live 1955 recording; Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala di Milano. Carlo Maria Giulini; Maria Callas, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Ettore Bastianini
  • D.G., 1977; Bayerischer Staatsopernchor / Bayerisches Staatsorchester; Carlos KleiberIleana Cotrubas, Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes

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If you like the opera, Rigoletto, here are some other operas written by Verdi:

Please visit the article archives for more interesting articles about opera like this one about Rigoletto. Feel free to contact the Opera feature writer, Bryce by email if you have questions about Rigoletto or have any recommendations as to material you would like to see covered.

The copyright of the article La Traviata - Verdi Opera in Opera is owned by Bryce Westervelt. Permission to republish La Traviata - Verdi Opera in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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