La Traviata Tickets

La Traviata Background Information

Written by Giuseppe Verdi, La traviata is an opera in three acts that is played to an Italian libretto composed by Franceso Maria Piave. It is based on the novel La dame aux Camélias written by Alexandre Dumas fils, which was published in 1848. “La traviata” is translated as “the woman who strayed,” or figuratively, “the fallen one.” The opera was first performed on March 6, 1853 in Venice's Teatro la Fenice. Verdi and Piave wanted a contemporary setting for the opera. However, La Fenice authorities insisted the opera's setting should be in the past. It would be years later when Verdi and Piave's ideas would be implemented in the show. The setting for the opera is the beginning of the 18th century Paris and the areas surrounding it. However, a lot of the more modern productions of the opera set it in the 19th century.