OPERA IN SLOVAKIA

LA TRAVIATTA

Week later again with the help of my friend PhDr. Izabela Pazitkova I was able to see another Verdi's masterpiece La Traviatta. The first premiere of this great Verdi's opera in March 6, 1853 was total fiasco and became one of the greatest Verdi's hits, year later. It is a story of a Parisian prostitute a hero of the salons, but in reality she remains a girl waiting for a great love. She finds her, however her love ends tragically. Superstitions of the society, social injustice, the power of money and "good behavior" destroy what are in people most precious-clean feelings. To Verdi the main character Violetta was a symbol of helpless woman living in immoral society. Her luck is her youth and beauty, her tragedy is love.

FIRST PART

Violetta, a well-known courtesan of Parisian underworld organizes a party for her friends to which comes also her latest admirer-Alfredo Germont. After celebratory drink he confesses to his love for her and asks her to change her lifestyle. Violetta gives him a Camellia flower and asks him to come back when the flower dries. When he left the party Violetta thinks of him. She feels good towards him and she dreams of happiness and real love.

SECOND PART

Violetta feels first time in her life real love. She lives with Alfredo away from the society’s rush and empty parties. She is spending lots of money and starts to sell what she can to prolong their living together. When Alfredo learns about this situation he leaves for Paris to get his affairs in order. While he is away, Alfredo's father Giorgio Germont pays a visit to Violetta and asks her to give up Alfredo, as their relationship is affecting the life of Alfredos sister and his own career. Violetta writes a letter to Alfredo from which he finds that she left him for good. Germond is begging his son to return home. From the letter of her friend Flora, Alfredo finds out that Violetta has returned to Paris and he is suspecting her from being unfaithful. During celebration ball at Flora Alfredo meets Violetta. He lost his sense and insults her and with that he is provoking her new friend, Baron Douphol. At the end in front of everybody's eyes he throws a bag of money under Violetas feet as a reward for her sold love. The Baron challenges Alfredo to a duel and Alfredo's father, who is the only one that knows of Violetta's honesty, gives up his son in a rage.

THIRD PART

Sorrow and loneliness is speeding Violetta's end-her long illness has returned after remission. She is dying poor, surrounded only by a handful of furniture from her past. Her health improves slightly after reading a letter from Alfredo's father who is telling her of Alfredo's return from abroad, where he went after the scandal at Flora’s. Alfredo returns and asks for Violetta's forgiveness. For a while they dream their knew happiness together, however Violetta's health is very poor to live through it. She passes away in Alfredo's arms.

GO BACK TO SLOVAK NATIONAL THEATER

Published in the Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 5, No. 3, Fall 1997
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1997 
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