Rigoletto, 2008 Photo: J. Reeder

La traviata

By Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave based on a play by Alexandre Dumas

Time: 1846
Place: Paris and the suburb Auteuil

ACT I

The courtesan Violetta Valéry is holding a party in her Paris apartment. Flora Bervoix, the Marquis d’Obigny, Gastone, and Violetta’s patron the Baron Douphol are among the revelers, as is a new admirer of Violetta’s, Alfredo Germont. Having long adored her from afar, Alfredo now flirts with Violetta in a rousing drinking song (“Libiamo ne’ lieti calici”). As the guests move to another room of the house to dance, Violetta suffers a fainting spell. Quickly regaining her composure, she assures her friends that all she needs is a few minutes alone. Concerned, Alfredo returns and confesses his love (Duet: “Un dì, felice”). Violetta makes light of his declaration—she seeks pleasure, not love. But he persists, and she agrees to meet him the next day. After the guests depart, Violetta ruminates on her new suitor (“Ah, fors’è lui”), wondering if Alfredo could be the man to change her life. But she quickly opts instead for continued freedom (“Sempre libera”), as Alfredo’s voice, heard outside, sings of the wonders of love.

ACT II

For three months Alfredo and Violetta have been living blissfully in a country house near Paris. Alfredo reflects on their contentment (“De’ miei bollenti spiriti”). When their servant Annina reveals that Violetta has sold her possessions to keep the house, Alfredo hurries off to the city to settle matters at his own cost. Violetta enters and reads an invitation from Flora to a party that evening. She is soon surprised by the arrival of Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont, who demands that Violetta break off her affair with his son; the scandal of their relationship has threatened Germont’s daughter’s engagement (Duet: “Pura siccome un angelo”). Violetta says that she cannot, but she eventually gives in. Alone, the desolate woman sends a message of acceptance to Flora and starts writing a farewell note to Alfredo. He enters suddenly, and she can barely control herself as she reminds him of how deeply she loves him before rushing out. A servant brings Violetta’s note to Alfredo as Germont returns to console his son and remind him of his loving family back home in Provence (“Di Provenza”). But Alfredo, catching sight of Flora’s invitation, suspects Violetta has left him for another lover. Furious, he resolves to confront her at the party.
At her “Spanish soirée” that evening, Flora learns from the Marquis that Violetta and Alfredo have separated, then clears the floor for hired entertainers—a band of fortune- telling gypsies and matadors. Before long, Alfredo strides in, making bitter comments about love and gambling recklessly at cards. Violetta arrives with Baron Douphol, who challenges Alfredo to a game and loses a small fortune to him. The crowd moves to another room for supper. Violetta has asked to speak with Alfredo privately. Fearful of the Baron’s anger, she wants Alfredo to leave, but he misunderstands her apprehension and demands that she admit she loves Douphol. When she says that she does, Alfredo calls in the others, denounces his former love, and cruelly hurls his winnings at her feet (“Questa donna conoscete?’’). Violetta is distraught. Germont arrives in time to witness his son’s rash act and denounces his behavior. The guests rebuke Alfredo, and Douphol challenges him to a duel.

ACT III

In Violetta’s bedroom six months later, Dr. Grenvil tells Annina that her mistress does not have long to live: she will soon die of tuberculosis. Alone, Violetta rereads a letter from Germont saying the Baron was only wounded in his duel with Alfredo, who knows everything and is on his way from abroad to beg her pardon. But Violetta senses it is too late (“Addio, del passato”). In a feverish daze, she hears street revelers celebrating Mardi Gras. As she rushes downstairs, Annina stops her, announcing that Alfredo has arrived. Ecstatically, the lovers plan to leave Paris forever (“Parigi, o cara”). Germont enters with the doctor, but Violetta says she feels her strength miraculously returning. This surge of vitality lasts just a moment; she suddenly staggers and falls dead at her lover’s feet.

• Synopsis courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera

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