LA TRAVIATA

In April 1852 Verdi received an order for a new opera for the next Venetian carnival season. Even half a year later, in October 1852, it was still not clear what theme he, with his librettist Francesco Piave, was going to choose. The premiere was in fact to be held in the spring. The delay was partly caused by the large Verdi´s workload – he was completing Il Trovatore, the premiere of which was to take place in Rome less than two months before the planned premiere of the opera for Venice. Only at the beginning of December Verdi with Piave decided for the play by Alexandre Dumas younger La dame aux camélias - it was a hot news, from its premiere in Paris had passed only a few months. The original name of the opera should have been Amor e morte (Love and Death), but this was banned by Venetian censors, and Verdi with Piave were forced to use a less explicit name La Traviata (a fallen woman).
Verdi was captivated by the contemporary story, and he also wanted it to be a real opera of that time, about people of his time, and played in contemporary costumes. But even this requirement was not approved by the Venetian censors, and the tragic love story of a Parisian courtesan and a young nobleman had to be shifted back to the beginning of the 18th century.
Opera originated in an incredibly short time of about two months. The premiere was held on 6th March 1853 at the Teatro La Fenice and was performed without any greater success - perhaps because of the low quality of the cast. Verdi was reluctant to allow the next performance before he would find better singers. Finally, the second performance took place at the Venetian Teatro San Benedetto a year later, and this time it was a clear success - Traviata has become one of the greatest Verdi´s operas. Despite of, or perhaps because of the fact, that the main role belongs to the most feared soprano parts at all.