La Traviata - Synopsis
The events take place in and around Paris during the 1840’s
Act I
Violetta's house
Violetta Valery, a well-known Parisian courtesan is hosting a glamorous party at her home, in the
company of her closest friend Flora and the city’s highest society. Gastone, a nobleman, arrives and
introduces his friend Alfredo Germont to Violetta, revealing that the latter has long been her silent
admirer, calling daily during her recent illness. Baron Douphol, Violetta’s current protector, is not
impressed by the new arrival and refuses Gastone’s invitation to propose a toast to the party. Alfredo
accepts it instead and sings an impassioned tribute to beauty and love to the hostess. As the others
retreat into another room to dance, Violetta suffers a fainting spell and remains behind. Alfredo
promptly joins her and confesses that he has been in love with her for a year. Violetta frivolously
offers him no more than friendship, but gives him a camellia, asking him to return once it has
withered. Alfredo is overjoyed and bids her goodnight. After her guests’ excited departure to further
raucous parties, Violetta reflects on Alfredo’s proffered love, and her fear of giving in to such earnest
feelings, but ultimately decides that she must remain as she is, forever free to enjoy all earthly
pleasures.
Act II - Scene 1
A country house near Paris
Won over by the young man’s ardent love, Violetta is now living with Alfredo in the country, having
abandoned her luxurious and leisurely life in the city. Annina, Violetta’s maid, enters and discloses to
Alfredo that she has just been to Paris, to make arrangements for the sale of Violetta’s belongings as
payment for the couple’s increasing debts. Alfredo, taken by surprise, now understands what Violetta
is sacrificing in order to live with him and leaves, determined to settle their financial situation at his
own cost.
Violetta enters and receives an invitation to a party at Flora's that same evening, but she has no
intention of going back to her former social life. A visitor is announced, and to Violetta’s surprise
Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father, enters. He abruptly declares that keeping Violetta as his mistress
is ruining Alfredo, but as he comments on the luxury of their retreat, Violetta shows him the letters
regarding the sale of all her assets. She also reveals that her health condition is precarious and that
Alfredo’s love is the only source of joy keeping her alive. Not giving up, Germont asks her to
renounce his son, as their liaison poses a serious social threat to the recent engagement of Alfredo's
younger sister. Ridden with guilt and the acknowledgement of her less reputable past, Violetta finally
surrenders, and agrees to leave Alfredo immediately and forever.
As she sits down to write her farewell note, Alfredo enters. Not realizing that his father has already
arrived, he tells Violetta that he has received a severe letter from him, but is sure that Germont will
approve of Violetta as soon as they meet. Pretending to leave for a moment so as to give father and
son a moment of privacy, Violetta escapes. A messenger soon enters with her farewell note which
leaves Alfredo in shock. His father reveals himself, trying his best to offer consolation, and tries to
persuade him to return to his family, but Alfredo refuses. Finding Flora's invitation, he determines to
go to the party and confront Violetta, despite his father’s reproach.
Act II - Scene 2
Flora's house
Flora has gathered a brilliant company for a costume ball and an evening of gambling. Among
surprising news of Violetta and Alfredo’s separation, the masked guests perform Spanish dances.
Alfredo arrives alone, just as the guests prepare to start gambling. Violetta soon enters escorted by her
previous protector, Baron Douphol. Alfredo attributes his great gambling success to the fact that “he
who is unlucky in love is lucky in cards”. The Baron, incensed by Alfredo’s insolence, challenges him
to a game of cards, which the latter accepts, promptly winning over a small fortune from the older
man. As the others move in for dinner, Violetta requests that Alfredo remains behind. She entreats
him to leave lest the situation with the Baron worsen. Alfredo says that he will only leave with her at
his side. Unable to reveal the truth behind her departure, Violetta declares that she is in love with the
Baron, throwing Alfredo into a fit of jealous rage. He calls back all the guests, denouncing Violetta’s
secret financial support of him, and throws his gambling winnings at her feet, for all to witness that he
has paid back her in full. Among Violetta’s despair and the general shock and rage, Germont enters,
joining in the rebuking of his son’s conduct, without however revealing the full truth. Alfredo is
already contrite, but now must answer to the Baron for this insult on the duel field.
Act III
Violetta's house
With Annina by her bedside, Violetta has been brought to the point of death through her illness. Her
physician, Dr. Grenvil arrives for his daily visit, which at this point consists of no more than kind but
shallow words of encouragement. He confirms to Annina that her mistress has but a few hours to live.
Left alone, Violetta rereads a letter from Germont communicating that Alfredo has gone abroad after
wounding the Baron in their duel, and has finally been made aware of Violetta's great sacrifice. They
will both be soon returning to beg her forgiveness, but the wait is driving Violetta to despair. She
finds herself renouncing her past dreams and hopes. At that point, Alfredo arrives in haste and the
lovers are reunited at last, vowing to leave Paris again for the healing calm of the countryside.
Germont appears accompanied by the doctor, only to see Violetta, now comforted by Alfredo, whom
she has loved so selflessly, perish in his son's arms. Before passing, Violetta entrusts Alfredo with a
picture of herself in youthful bloom - a memento of their tragic story, to be passed on to the woman
who in future might have the fortune of becoming his loving wife.
La Traviata - Opsomming
Die gebeure speel af in en om Parys in die 1840’s.
Eerste Bedryf
Violetta se huis
Violetta Valéry, ‘n bekende Paryse courtisane, hou ‘n glansryke partytjie by haar huis in die geselskap
van haar goeie vriendin, Flora, en die stad se hoë lui. Gastone, ‘n edelman, stel sy vriend Alfredo
Germont aan Violetta voor, en onthul dat dié reeds ’n geruime tyd ’n geheime bewonderaar van haar
is. Hy het selfs daagliks oor haar uitgevra gedurende haar onlangse siekte. Baron Douphol, Violetta se
huidige beskermheer, is glad nie beïndruk met die nuwe gas nie, en wys Gastone se uitnodiging om ’n
heildronk in te stel van die hand. Alfredo aanvaar dit op sy beurt, en sing ’n hartstogetlike ode van
skoonheid en liefde aan die gasvrou. Soos die gaste uit beweeg om te dans, ervaar Violetta ’n skielike
floute en bly agter. Alfredo sluit by haar aan en erken dat hy reeds ’n jaar lank op haar verlief is.
Violetta lag dit af en bied hom slegs haar vriendskap aan. Nogtans gee sy aan hom ’n kamelia en
versoek dat hy terugkom sodra dit verlep het. Alfredo groet haar, oorstelp van opgewondenheid.
Nadat die gaste vertrek om by ander partytjies aan te sluit, dink Violetta oor Alfredo se beloofde
liefde na, maar besluit uiteindelik dat sy moet bly soos sy is - vir ewig vry om al die aardse plesiere te
geniet.
Tweede Bedryf – 1ste toneel
’n Huis op die platteland buite Parys
Oorwin deur die jong man se vurige liefde, woon Violetta nou saam met Alfredo op die platteland
nadat sy haar luukse en gemaklike stadslewe prysgegee het. Alfredo besing haar lof en sy geluk.
Annina, Violetta se diensmeisie, erken aan Alfredo dat sy onlangs in Parys was om die verkoop van
Violetta se besittings te reël, en om sodoende die paartjie se skuld te delg. Alfredo is stomgeslaan en
besef skielik hoeveel Violetta prysgegee het om saam met hom te wees. Hy vertrek, vasbeslote om hul
finansies sélf uit te sorteer.
Violetta ontvang ‘n uitnodiging na ‘n partytjie by Flora vir later die aand, maar sy het egter geen
behoefte om terug te keer na haar vorige sosiale lewe nie. ‘n Besoeker word aangekondig, en tot
Violetta se groot verbasing stap Alfredo se pa, Giorgio Germont, binne.
Hy verklaar aanvallend dat Alfredo homself laat ruïneer deur sy verhouding met haar, maar net soos
hy kommentaar lewer op hul luukse opset, gee Violetta aan hom ‘n bewys vir die verkoop van haar
besittings. Sy maak dit ook aan hom bekend dat haar gesondheid ernstig in gevaar is, en dat Alfredo
se liefde die enigste bron van vreugde is wat haar aan die lewe hou. Germont is onsimpatiek en vra
dat sy Alfredo steeds moet verlaat, aangesien hul verhouding ‘n sosiale bedryging inhou vir die
onlangse verlowing van sy jonger dogter.
Belas met skuldgevoel en erkenning van haar berugte verlede, gee Violetta uiteindelik in en
onderneem om Alfredo onmiddelik en permanent te verlaat. Terwyl sy haar afskeidsbrief skryf,
arriveer Alfredo. Onbewus dat sy pa reeds opgedaag het, vertel hy aan Violetta dat hy ‘n streng brief
van hom ontvang het, maar verseker haar dat Germont sy mening oor haar sal verander sodra hulle
ontmoet. Violetta ontsnap met die verskoning om vir pa en seun eers ‘n oomblik van privaatheid te
gun. Kort daarna bring ‘n boodskapper Violetta se afskeidsbreif na vore, wat Alfredo orstelp van skok
laat. Sy pa verskyn met bemoedigende woorde en probeer hom ooreed om terug te keer na sy familie,
maar Alfredo weier. Na aanleiding van Flora se uitnodiging, en teen sy vader se pleidooi, besluit hy
egter om by die partytjie aan te sluit en Violetta te konfronteer.
Tweede Bedryf – 2de toneel
Flora se huis
Flora het ‘n deftige geselskap genooi vir ‘n kostuumbal en ‘n aand van dobbel. Terwyl die
verrassende nuus van Violetta en Alfredo se skeiding onthul word, gee die gemaskerde gaste ‘n
vertoning in die Spaanse styl. Alfredo arriveer alleen toe die gaste gereedmaak om te dobbel. Kort
daarna stap Violetta binne, vergesel van haar vorige beskermheer, Baron Douphol. Alfredo
verduidelik dat sy sukses in die dobbelspel te doen het met die feit dat “dié wat ongelukkig in liefde
is, is gelukkig in kaartspel”. Die Baron, woedend oor Alfredo se onbeskofte gedrag, daag hom uit vir
‘n dobbelspel. Alfredo aanvaar dit en word spoedig die wenner van ‘n klein fortuin uit die Baron se
hand. Soos die ander na binne beweeg vir ete, vra Violetta dat Alfredo agterbly. Sy smeek hom om
die partytjie te verlaat vóór die situasie met die Baron vererger. Alfredo weier om te vertrek sonder
haar aan sy arm. Nie in staat om die volle waarheid te openbaar nie, verklaar Violetta dat sy verlief is
op die Baron, wat Alfredo in woede laat uitbars. Hy roep die volle geselskap terug, maak dit bekend
dat Violetta hom in geheim finansieël onderhou het, en gooi al sy oorwinnings aan haar voete sodat
almal getuies kan wees dat hy haar ten volle terug betaal het. Violetta is troosteloos tussen die
geselskap se skok en woede. Germont arriveer en sluit aan by die teregwysing van Alfredo se gedrag,
maar kan ook nie die volle waarheid onthul nie. Alfredo is verslae, en moet nou teenoor die beledigde
Baron verskyn in ‘n tweestryd.
Derde Bedryf
Violetta se huis
Violetta is op haar sterfbed met Annina aan haar sy. Haar geneeskundige, Dr. Grenvil, arriveer vir sy
daaglikse besoek, wat op hierdie stadium nie veel meer as goedgesinde maar leë woorde van
aanmoediging is nie. Hy bevestig egter aan Annina dat Violetta slegs ‘n paar ure oorhet om te leef.
Alleen, lees Violetta weer ‘n brief van Germont waarin verklaar word dat Alfredo in die buiteland is
nadat hy die Baron gewond het tydens die tweestryd, maar ook dat hy uiteindelik bewus gemaak is
van Violetta se groot opoffering. Pa en seun beloof om binnekort terug te keer om haar vergifnis te
vra, maar die afwagting laat Violetta in wanhoop oor haar drome en verwagtinge. Alfredo arriveer in
‘n haas. Die verliefdes is uiteindelik herenig en besluit om Parys te verlaat vir die genesende
rustigheid van die platteland. Germont stap saam met die dokter na binne, net betyds om Violetta in
die arms van sy seun, wie sy so onselfsugtig bemin het, te sien sterwe. Voor sy sterf gee Violetta aan
Alfredo ‘n beeld van haarself uit haar prille jeug – ‘n aandenking van hul tragiese verhaal wat
oorgedra moet word aan die dame wat in die toekoms die voorreg sal hê om sy geliefde vrou te word.
