Giuseppe Verdi

La traviata is an opera in four scenes by Giuseppe Verdi with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It was based on the novel A Dama das Camélias, by Alexandre Dumas Filho. It premiered on March 6, 1853 at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Synopsis: Act I It's a party night at the house of courtesan Violetta Valéry. Violetta, betrothed to Baron Douphol, is introduced by her friend Gastone de Letorières to Alfredo Germont. Gastone says that he had known Violetta for some time and that he secretly loved her. Alfredo, then, making a toast to Violetta, declares her love for her. Violetta replies to Alfredo that, being a worldly woman, she doesn't know how to love and that she could only offer him friendship, and Alfredo should look for another woman. But still, Violetta offers her a rose that she carries between her breasts and asks her to come back the next day. After the party, Violetta remains alone and begins to realize how deeply Alfredo's words have touched her, a love she has never known before. Act II Scene 1 Violetta and Alfredo start a romantic relationship and go to live in a country house, on the outskirts of Paris. Aninna, Violetta's maid, tells Alfredo that Violetta has been constantly going to Paris to sell her goods, to support the expenses of the country house. Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father, visits Violetta and begs her to leave Alfredo forever. Giorgio tells him about his family and especially his daughter, in Provence, and believes that seeing Alfredo involved with a worldly woman would destroy his reputation. Annoyed, Violetta responds to Giorgio's pleas and seals an envelope addressed to Alfredo. Violetta leaves for a party at her friend Flora Bervoix's house and Alfredo reads the letter. Suspecting that Violetta may have betrayed him, Alfredo goes to Flora's house to get revenge. Act II Scene 2 The party starts with a group of masked people who provide them with entertainment. Alfredo arrives at the party and then Violetta Valery arrives accompanied by Baron Duphol. Alfredo starts playing with the Baron and wins. As dinner is served, Violetta and Alfredo remain alone in the hall and Alfredo forces her to confess the truth. Violetta, lying, says she loves the baron. Furious, Alfredo summons everyone to the salon and throws all the money won in the game in Violetta's face and challenges Douphol to a duel. Violetta faints, Alfredo is repressed by everyone and the party ends. act III Violetta is sick and impoverished after getting rid of all her possessions. Taken by tuberculosis, she receives letters from several friends and one in particular catches her attention. It's by Giorgio Germont, regretting having pitted Violetta against Alfredo. Giorgio and Alfredo visit Violetta, and they reconcile. Violetta and Alfredo start making life plans for after Violetta's recovery. However, Violetta is very physically weakened and begins to feel her body giving way. She gives Alfredo a portrait of her and warns him to give it to the next woman he falls in love with. Violetta feels the spasms of pain stop, but then she breathes out.

Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It premiered at the La Fenice theater in Venice on March 11, 1851. Opera inspired by the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. The work however deviates slightly from the play, due to the imposed censorship. The Duke's character was initially the King, and some part of the text had to be changed due to political content. "Rigoletto" takes place in northern Italy during the 16th century in the town of Mantua. Act 1 Inside a room within the Duke's palace, the Duke is hosting a ball, eying and taking delight in the many beautiful women in attendance. After spotting an exceptionally beautiful girl, one he has never known, he makes it his mission to seduce her. He also seeks companionship with Countess Ceprano, even though she is married. Rigoletto, the Duke's jester and right-hand man, begins to mock and make fun of the men at the ball. He tells the Duke to either imprison or kill them, allowing the Duke the freedom of being with whomever he pleases. Marullo informs the noblemen that Rigoletto has a lover. The noblemen cannot believe that Rigoletto could have a lover, so they turn the table and begin mocking him and devising a plan against him. Count Monterone, an elderly man, interrupts by accusing the Duke of seducing his daughter. The sharp-tongued Rigoletto begins to ridicule him before the Duke orders his arrest. As Count Monterone is escorted out of the ball, he curses both the Duke and Rigoletto. Shaken by the words of Count Monterone, Rigoletto is upset as he makes his way home. He is greeted by an assassin named Sparafucile, and the two men converse. Rigoletto says his words are as sharp as swords and refuses Sparafucile's assistance. When Rigoletto gets home, he is warmly welcomed by his daughter, Gilda. Rigoletto has made her existence secret, even from the Duke. She only leaves the house to go to church and doesn't know what her father does or even his name. After Rigoletto leaves, Gilda describes a young man she saw in the church to her nurse, Giovanna, and tells her she has fallen for him. She confesses her guilt for not telling her father. Gilda tells Giovanna that she would love the boy even more if here were a poor student. Outside of the house, the Duke overhears the ladies' conversation. He finds a way to separate the two women before making his entrance. The Duke enters the house and startles her. He tells her he is a poor student named Gualtier Maldè and confesses his love to her. Gilda is overjoyed, but quickly sends him away at the sound of approaching footsteps. The Duke rushes out of the house and Gilda retires to her room. Outside of their garden, instead of Rigoletto returning home, it is the noblemen from the ball. Suspecting the young girl inside to be Rigoletto's lover, they craft a plan to abduct her. The men trick Rigoletto into helping them by telling him that they are abducting Countess Ceprano. Rigoletto excitedly offers his help. They blindfold him and lead him back to his own house. As he holds the ladder, still blindfolded, the men break into Rigoletto's home and kidnap his daughter. As Gilda screams, Rigoletto tears off his blindfold and runs into the house. Finding only her scarf, he remembers Count Monterone's curse. Act 2 Inside the palace, the Duke has learned that Gilda has been kidnapped. However, his fears subside when the men who stole her arrive in the palace with Gilda in hand. He orders the men to lock her in an adjacent room before making his way there. Rigoletto arrives not long after, happily singing as an attempt to disguise his anguish. The noblemen begin tormenting, laughing, and mocking him. Finally, Rigoletto breaks down and confesses that Gilda is his daughter. The men do not believe him and taunt him for being completely mad. Gilda rushes in to her father's aid and the noblemen finally disperse. She tells Rigoletto of the blessed events that have taken place, and he swears vengeance against the Duke. Gilda, however, pleads for the Duke. Act 3 Rigoletto and Gilda travel to the outskirts of town to pay a visit to the assassin, Sparafucile. Before entering the run-down inn, Rigoletto and Gilda overhear the Duke inside flirting with Sprafucile's sister, Maddalena, while singing the famous aria "La donna e mobile" ("All women are fickle"). Rigoletto instructs Gilda to disguise herself in men's clothing and escape to Verona. When she complies, he tells her he will not be far behind. Gilda changes into her disguise and sets out to Verona. Rigoletto enters the inn and makes a deal with Sparafucile to kill the Duke. During their meeting, a violent storm rolls in and Rigoletto stays there for the night. Gilda returns to the assassin's inn, unable to travel. She hears Maddalena's pleas to spare the Duke's life. Sparafucile agrees to spare his life and will kill the next man to walk through the door in order to dupe Rigoletto. Even though the Duke has proven to be unfaithful, Gilda still loves him. Gilda is resolved to sacrifice her life for his, and walks through the door. She is stabbed immediately. Sparafucile wraps the lifeless body in a bag and gives it to Rigoletto. Rigoletto hands over his payment and happily carries the bag down to the river to dispose of the body. As he approaches the water, he hears the voice of the Duke in the distance. Rigoletto opens the bag and is horrified at the sight. Gilda, with one last breath of life, revives. She tells her father that she gladly dies for her beloved and asks for his forgiveness. Sadly, she passes away in his arms. Once again, Rigoletto remembers Count Monterone's curse.