La traviata

Melodramma in Three Acts (1853) Music by Giuseppe Verdi Text by Francesco Maria Piave after Alexandre Dumas d. J. The Fallen One – this is Violetta Valéry, who leads a life between glory and misery as an Edelkurtisane in Paris. Everything is just play and illusion, even love, until Alfredo Germont awakens her true feelings. However, happiness is a rare guest and of short duration: Violetta, suffering from consumption, is first humiliated and fades away after a final flare-up of her vitality. Verdi only once turned to contemporary subject matter with 'La traviata' by Alexandre Dumas d.J. As a novel as well as a theater piece, Dumas has shaped this event based on real events into literature. Verdi created music of great impact for it, which allows for much expression of emotions: joy and excess, lament and despair. The listener and observer is almost drawn into the action to participate directly in Violetta's fate. As the last work of the so-called 'Trilogia populare', La traviata was first performed in 1853 and first shown at the Haus Unter den Linden in 1860. After initial skepticism, it quickly became a successful opera on an international scale. The production by Dieter Dorn portrays Violetta as a woman who is doomed from the beginning but rebels against her fate. In the end, she simply disappears, dissolved into nothingness. External Content To protect your privacy, we do not automatically load the external content 'Trailer La traviata'. When you load external content, personal data may be transferred to the respective third-party provider. More information can be found in our privacy policy. Violetta Valéry is ill. Musically, her story is told from her death onwards. The piece begins and ends with the dream of an unfulfillable love. The party she has invited to attend is meant to be a cure for consumption: in the tumult of the crowd, in the whirl, during shared drinking, she wants to surrender herself to pleasure. Gastone, Vicomte de Létorières, introduces her to a new guest, Alfredo Germont, who has admired her for a year and offers her his love and a peaceful life. Violetta must decide between Baron Douphol, who has paid for her services for a year, or Alfredo, who loves her as she has never been loved before. In the early morning after the departure of her guests, Violetta tries to clarify what she wants: serious love or a life that is entirely devoted to pleasure. She decides on Alfredo. Violetta and Alfredo have lived together for three months on the countryside. They are happy, but the money is running out. Violetta is busy with her servant Annina selling her possessions, as she no longer earns anything. Alfredo praises his happiness. In his carefree state, he does not think about who finances it. When Annina tells him that Violetta is currently selling everything, he goes to Paris to find another solution. In the meantime, Alfredo's father Giorgio Germont appears before Violetta. He accuses her of squandering Alfredo's money and reputation as well as that of his family. Violetta initially confronts him decisively. Although Germont realizes his mistake, he argues with all means and tricks against the relationship between Violetta and Alfredo. He asks her to leave Alfredo to prevent the planned profitable marriage of his daughter. Violetta realizes that 'good society' does not forgive, that her new life is not accepted. Therefore, she decides on a radical break. She pretends to return to her old life. The invitation to a party at Flora Bervoix, her friend and rival, whom she has just received, offers the opportunity to appear with the Baron.