Author(s): Giuseppe Verdi

Classic Fiction

A complete guide to Giuseppe Verdi's 18th opera, showing him at the height of his middle-period powers Adapted from "La dame aux Camelias" by Alexandre Dumas, fils, "La Traviata" portrays the love of the courtesan Violetta Valery and the young Alfredo Germont in fashionable Parisian society, with its inevitable tragic outcome. It had its premiere at La Fenice in Venice in 1853 and has gone on to become one of the most performed and greatly loved of all operas. This guide contains articles about Verdi's preparations for the first performances, a musical commentary, an overview of the opera's social background, and an examination of how the libretto was adapted from Dumas's play. Also included are a survey of important performances and performers, 16 pages of illustrations, a musical thematic guide, the full libretto and English translation, a discography, bibliography, DVD, and website guides.