Verdi La Traviata

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STORY

Set in Paris around 1850, the play tells the story of the love between a courtesan, Violetta Valéry, and a young man from a bourgeois family, Alfredo Germont. Madly in love with each other, Violetta goes so far as to give up her social life for Alfredo. Furious that his son is tarnishing his family's reputation, Father Germont urges Violetta to sacrifice her love. In a state of complete idleness, Violetta, seriously ill with tuberculosis, will not survive this heartbreak.

 Act 1

It all begins in a Parisian salon where Violetta, a prominent young courtesan, is giving a sumptuous party in the company of her friends. Among them is her protector and lover, Baron Douphol. During the evening Gastone, a friend of Violetta's, introduces her to Alfredo, a young man who has just arrived from the provinces and is madly in love with her. After declaring her love for him, she gives in to the idea that true love might be possible with him.

 Act 2

Alfredo and Violetta settle down together near Paris and live a perfect love. One day, Violetta receives a visit from Alfredo's father. He accuses her of an immoral union and tells her that her relationship with Alfredo is bringing his entire family into disrepute. Stating vehemently that they can never marry, Monsieur Germont implores Violetta to give up Alfredo for everyone's sake. The young courtesan decides to comply with Alfredo's father's wishes and writes her lover a parting letter.
Violetta then resumes her life as a courtesan and appears again in Paris, on the arm of her protector. Alfredo, blinded by rage and jealousy, has also gone to the party. After winning at the games, he humiliates Traviata by throwing her money in her face, "to pay her everything he owed her", provoking the astonishment of the guests.

Act 3

Long suffering from tuberculosis, Violetta's condition is getting worse with time. When she receives a letter from Alfredo's father, in which he confesses that he has confessed everything to his son, she finds herself hoping for a new life with Alfredo. The young lover is announced, but he barely has time to find his beloved before she expires in his arms, exhausted by her illness.

THE MAIN ROLES

Violetta Valéry, courtesan and lover of Alfredo (soprano)
Alfredo Germont, Violetta's lover (tenor)
Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father (baritone)
Flora Bervoix, Violetta's friend (mezzo-soprano)
Annina, Violetta's chambermaid (soprano)
Gastone, friend of Violetta and Alfredo (tenor)
Baron Douphol, Violetta's protector (baritone)