Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La traviata premiered in Venice in 1853.
The first performance took place at Venice’s Teatro La Fenice on 6 March 1853. Francesco Maria Piave wrote the libretto, adapting Alexandre Dumas fils’s 1848 novel and play La Dame aux camélias. The story centers on Violetta Valéry, a Parisian courtesan who falls in love with Alfredo Germont.
The premiere was unsuccessful, partly because the singers and staging did not suit Verdi’s intentions. A revised production at the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice on 6 May 1854 was much more successful and helped establish the opera’s lasting reputation.
La traviata means “the fallen woman,” referring to Violetta’s social position. It is often mistakenly dated to 1854 because that successful revival is frequently mentioned, but the original premiere occurred in 1853. Verdi’s score combines intimate character drama with memorable ensembles and arias.