La traviata

Synopsis

Act I

In the home of Violetta Valéry, the beautiful and famous Parisian socialite and lover of Baron Douphol, a festive gathering is underway. Gastone presents to the lady of the house the young Alfredo Germont, her admirer. Violetta proposes a toast, and soon afterwards, Alfredo asks her to dance; as they go into the garden, the woman, who has been ill for some time, is seized with a fit of coughing and has to stop. Alfredo declares his love for her, but she responds by stating that she can only offer him her friendship.

The two of them are again caught up in the bustle of the party, but they make an appointment for the next day. The guests leave and Violetta realises that she feels truly in love for the first time.

Act II

Violetta and Alfredo are now living together in a country house outside Paris; Alfredo, however, learns from the maid Annina that Violetta has had to sell her jewels to pay the expenses, and he leaves for Paris to raise money. Violetta is alone and receives a visit from Giorgio Germont,  Alfredo’s father, who asks her to break off the relationship that is causing his son’s ruin. Violetta, offended, answers by explaining that she has had to sell her jewels so that she won’t have to ask for money from the man she loves. Germont is struck by her statement, and, in a different tone, entreats her to leave Alfredo so as not to compromise, with her bad reputation, the future marriage of his daughter. Violetta, against her will, accepts in order not to ruin Alfredo and his family; Germont is moved.

When Alfredo, knowing nothing, returns from Paris, he find a letter in which Violetta tells him that she has decided to leave him; his father attempts to console him by reminding him of his native land, but Alfredo’s jealousy is aroused when he discovers an invitation to a boisterous party.

When Violetta arrives at the party, accompanied by her old lover Douphol, Alfredo is already seated at the gaming table, feigning indifference. He continues to win; when Violetta begs him to leave and tells him, lying, that she loves the baron, Alfredo gets the attention of all the guests and throws a money purse contemptuously at Violetta’s feet. The elder Germont reproaches him for his act, but does not reveal the truth to him.

Act III

Violetta, by now confined to her bed with consumption, knows that she is close to death. In a letter, the old Germont has told her that Alfredo, after having wounded the baron in a duel, left France, but after being informed by his father of the truth, was returning to be with her. Alfredo arrives and throws himself into Violetta’s arms, and together they begin to make plans for their future. In the meantime Germont also arrives, but it is too late: Violetta revives briefly and then dies next to the man she truly loved.