traviata

La traviata, commonly referred to as Traviata, is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The libretto by Francesco Maria Piave adapts the 1848 play La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas fils. It premiered in 1853 at La Fenice in Venice and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Verdi and a central work in the operatic repertoire.

The story is set in mid-19th-century Paris and its surroundings. Violetta Valéry, a celebrated and financially precarious courtesan, falls in love with Alfredo Germont. They begin a quiet life together, but Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont, persuades Violetta that their affair will ruin his daughter’s prospects, prompting her to sacrifice her happiness and leave. Years later, a reconciled but ill Violetta is confronted by Alfredo, who now learns of her sacrifice and asks for forgiveness; she dies after reconciling with him.

Principal characters include Violetta Valéry (soprano), Alfredo Germont (tenor), and Giorgio Germont (baritone). Supporting roles include Flora Bervoix, Baron Douphol, and Doctor Grenvil, among others. The score blends lyric melodies with Verdi’s mature dramatic style, featuring well-known numbers such as Libiamo nel lieti calici (the drinking song), Sempre libera, Di Provenza il mar, il vecchio, and Addio del passato.

La traviata has become a staple of the operatic repertoire worldwide, with frequent revivals, translations, and recordings. Its emotional intensity, social themes, and musical accessibility have contributed to its enduring popularity and influence on later operatic drama. The title La traviata translates roughly to The Fallen Woman; the work is commonly called La Traviata in English-language contexts.