Giuseppe Verdi - La Traviata, directed by Riccardo Muti

La Traviata is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It takes as its basis the novel La dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils, published in 1848. It was first performed at the Teatro la Fenice in Venice, on March 6, 1853. The title "La traviata" means literally The Woman Who Strayed, or perhaps more poetically The Lost One. The opera is immensely popular; according to Opera America, La Traviata is the third most performed opera in North America, behind only Madama Butterfly and La Bohème.

A film version of the opera was released in 1982, directed by Franco Zeffirelli and featuring Teresa Stratas, Plácido Domingo and Cornell MacNeil. Various versions of the movie Camille were also adapted from the same novel. Baz Luhrmann's 2001 film Moulin Rouge was also inspired by the story.

Synopsis
Place: Paris and vicinity.
Time: about 1700. (Many modern producers of La traviata set the opera in the 19th century.)

Act I
Violetta Valery, a famed courtesan, throws a lavish party at her Parisian abode to celebrate her recovery from an illness. Gaston, a count, has brought with him his friend the young nobleman Alfredo Germont, who has longed for a year to meet Violetta. Alfredo, upon introduction to Violetta, expresses his concern for her fragile health and later declares his love for her. Violetta rejects him but gives him a camellia, telling him to return when the flower has wilted. After the guests leave, Violetta contemplates the possibility of a real relationship with true love, but finally rejects the notion. She needs freedom to live life, night and day, from one pleasure to another.


Act II
A few months later, Alfredo and Violetta together lead an idyllic existence in a country house outside of Paris — Violetta has fallen in love with Alfredo in spite of herself. She has completely abandoned her former life. When Alfredo discovers, however, that Violetta has sold her belongings to support this country life, he rushes to Paris to rectify the situation. In Alfredo's absence, his father comes to Violetta and tells her that their relationship has destroyed Alfredo's future and the fortunes of Alfredo's sister (Violetta's reputation as a courtesan has compromised the Germont name). With growing remorse she listens to the pathetic words of the older Germont and, through his influence, leaves Alfredo, giving as explanation a desire for her old, wild existence.


Act III
In order to overcome her grief, Violetta plunges more deeply than ever into dissipation. Some time later, Alfredo confronts Violetta at a party and disgraces her before the other guests by throwing money at her — money he says he owes her for services rendered while they lived together in the country. (He does not know of his father's visit and believes that Violetta has left him for another man.) Violetta, overcome with sickness and sorrow, faints. Germont enters and chastises Alfredo for treating a woman so disrespectfully. Baron Douphol, Violetta's escort, challenges Alfredo to a duel. Violetta regains consciousness and pleads her love for Alfredo.


Act IV
A few months after the party, tuberculosis (or "consumption" in 19th-century opera vernacular) has confined Violetta to her bed. Old Germont sends her a letter stating that he has informed Alfredo of the sacrifice Violetta made for Alfredo and his sister. Alfredo (returning from exile after wounding the Baron in their duel), hastens to her side, understanding at last that Violetta had sacrificed herself for his sake, and begs her forgiveness. She dies in his arms.



Track Listing:

Disc One:
01. La Traviata: Prelude
02. La Traviata: Act 1: Dell'invito trascorsa e gia l'ora
03. La Traviata: Act 1: Libiamo ne' lieti calici
04. La Traviata: Act 1: Che e cio
05. La Traviata: Act 1: Un di felice eterea
06. La Traviata: Act 1: Ebben? Che diavol fate?
07. La Traviata: Act 1: Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora n
08. La Traviata: Act 1: E strano, e strano!
09. La Traviata: Act 1: Ah! Fors'è lui!
10. La Traviata: Act 1: Follie! Follie! Delirio vano
11. La Traviata: Act 1: Sempre libera
12. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Lunge da lei
13. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: De' miei bollenti spiriti
14. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Annina, donde vieni? O mio rimorso!
15. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Alfredo? - Per Parigi or or partiva
16. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Pura siccome un angelo
17. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Non sapete quale affetto
18. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Un di, quando le veneri
19. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Ah, dite alla giovine
20. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Imponete... Non amarlo ditegli
21. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Dammi tu forza, o cielo!
22. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Che fai?... Nulla

Disc Two:
01. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Ah, vive sol quel core all'amor mio!
02. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Di Provenza il mar il suol
03. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 1: Ne rispondi d'un padre all'affetti? No, non udirai rimproveri
04. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 2: Avrem lieta di maschere la notte
05. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 2: Noi siamo zingarelle
06. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 2: Di Madride noi siam mattadori
07. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 2: Alfredo! Voi?
08. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 2: Invitato a qui seguirmi
09. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 2: Ogni suo aver tal femmina
10. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 2: Di sprezzo degno se stesso rende
11. La Traviata: Act 2: Scene 2: Alfredo, Alfredo di questo core
12. La Traviata: Act 3: Prelude
13. La Traviata: Act 3: Annina? - Comandate?
14. La Traviata: Act 3: Teneste la promessa... Attendo - Né a me giungon mai! Addio del passato
15. La Traviata: Act 3: Largo al quadrupede
16. La Traviata: Act 3: Signora - Che t'accadde
17. La Traviata: Act 3: Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo
18. La Traviata: Act 3: Ah, non piu, Gran Dio! Morir si giovine
19. La Traviata: Act 3: Ah, Violetta! - Voi, signor!
20. La Traviata: Act 3: Prendi, quest' e l'immagine. E strano!