| La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe | | | | only Madama Butterfly and La bohème. Today, |
| Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria | | | | La Traviata has become immensely popular and it |
| Piave. La Traviata is based on the novel La dame | | | | is a staple of the standard operatic repertoire. It |
| aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils, | | | | is third on Opera America's list of the 20 |
| published in 1848. The first performance of the | | | | most-performed operas in North America, behind |
| opera, on 6 March 1853 in Venice's La Fenice, was | | | | only Madama Butterfly and La bohème. La |
| an utter failure. The day after, Verdi wrote to his | | | | Traviata Tickets are available at Sold out Ticket |
| friend Muzio in what has now become perhaps his | | | | Market at nominal rates. Piave and Verdi wanted |
| most famous letter: "La Traviata last night a | | | | to follow Dumas in giving the opera a |
| failure. My fault or the singers'? Time will tell." This | | | | contemporary setting, but the authorities at La |
| letter not only implies what Verdi already | | | | Fenice insisted that it be set in the past, "c. 1700". |
| knew—that the singers, particularly the obese | | | | It was not until the 1880s that the composer and |
| soprano who could never convincingly play a dying | | | | librettist's original wishes were carried out and |
| consumptive, had failed to "understand his music.". | | | | "realistic" productions were staged. The first |
| But more importantly, this letter captures Verdi's | | | | performance of the opera, on 6 March 1853 in |
| faith that the public ultimately knows what is and | | | | Venice's La Fenice, was an utter failure. The day |
| is not good art and will pronounce its judgment in | | | | after, Verdi wrote to his friend Muzio in what has |
| good time. After some revisions between 1853 | | | | now become perhaps his most famous letter: "La |
| and May 1854, mostly affecting Acts 2 and 3, the | | | | Traviata last night a failure. My fault or the |
| opera was presented again in Venice, this time at | | | | singers'? Time will tell." This letter not only implies |
| the Teatro San Benedetto.On 24 May 1856 the | | | | what Verdi already knew—that the singers, |
| revised version was presented at Her Majesty's | | | | particularly the obese soprano who could never |
| Theatre in London followed on 3 December of | | | | convincingly play a dying consumptive, had failed |
| that year by its premiere in New York.Today, the | | | | to "understand his music.". But more importantly, |
| opera has become immensely popular and it is a | | | | this letter captures Verdi's faith that the public |
| staple of the standard operatic repertoire. It is | | | | ultimately knows what is and is not good art and |
| third on Opera America's list of the 20 | | | | will pronounce its judgment in good time. |
| most-performed operas in North America, behind | | | | |