Giuseppe Verdi

La Traviata: Act III, Preludio

LA TRAVIATA (THE FALLEN WOMAN), an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), is based on La Dame aux camélias (1852), a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas. The opera was originally titled Violetta, after the main character. Piave and Verdi wanted to follow Dumas in giving the opera a contemporary setting, but the authorities at La Fenice insisted that it be set in the past, ca. 1700. The opera premiered on December 6, 1856 at the Salle Ventadour in Paris. It was not until the 1880's that the composer's and librettist's original wishes were carried out and "realistic" productions were staged. LA TRAVIATA has become immensely popular and is among the most frequently performed of all operas. The PRELUDIO to Act 3 returns to the music of the prelude in Act 1, setting the scene for Violetta's final illness and tragic death in the arms of her lover Alfredo. Instrumentation: 1.1.2.2: 1.0.0.0: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set).