La Traviata

Title: La Traviata
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Premiere: 1853, Italian
Setting: 19th-century Paris
Main Characters:

• Violetta Valéry (a courtesan)

• Alfredo Germont (her lover)

• Giorgio Germont (Alfredo’s father)

Plot Summary:
Violetta, a celebrated courtesan in Paris, falls in love with the young Alfredo. She abandons her lavish lifestyle to live with him in the countryside. However, Alfredo's father, Giorgio, persuades her to leave Alfredo for the sake of his family's reputation. Heartbroken, Violetta pretends she no longer loves Alfredo and returns to her old life. Alfredo, believing he has been betrayed, publicly humiliates her. Later, as Violetta succumbs to illness, Alfredo learns the truth and rushes to her side. They reconcile, but she dies in his arms.

Key Themes & Significance:
A poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and societal hypocrisy, La Traviata remains one of opera's most beloved works. Verdi's lush melodies and dramatic intensity make it a cornerstone of the repertoire, and Violetta is one of opera's most compelling tragic heroines.