Verdi's Soul-Stirring Tragic Opera

At the age of 40, Italian Opera legend Verdi turned from the biblical dramas and ancient histories that inspired much of the grand opera tradition to write La Traviata, a tragic tale that dealt with moral and social dilemmas that were not openly acknowledged by polite society. While it may have caused controversy upon its debut, the opera is one of his most celebrated works, praised for its emotional depth and exquisite, bittersweet beauty.

Verdi's herione is Violetta, the fallen woman of the title, a glamorous Parisian courtesan that lives for earthly pleasures until she finds something lacking in her manicured life. Her heart's fires are stoked when she meets Alfredo, but the young lover's happiness is not to be long-lived when Violetta gives up her love for the sake of his family and their reputation.