First performed in Venice during the mid-1800s, La Traviata is a three-act opera usually sung in Italian. The opera was composed by Giuseppe Verdi at the height of his career. Verdi became inspired to write the opera after seeing Alexander Dumas’ play, The Lady of the Camellias, in Paris.
The story centers on a young woman, Violetta, who is in a controversial relationship with a man from a well-heeled family. The tragic love story remains popular with modern audiences and has been translated into film and played on the small screen. Most recently, the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City included La Traviata in its 2019/2020 season.