La Traviata

by Giuseppe Verdi

Overview

In this guide, Julian Budden reviews the difficulties that faced the management that had commissioned La Traviata and how, in some previously unpublished letters, Verdi fought their views on casting the leading lady. Denis Arnold contributes a musical commentary. April FitzLyon discusses the social background of the 'lady of the camellias' in fact, fiction and on the stage, and Nicholas John compares the libretto with the play to show how skilfully it was adapted for the operatic stage.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780714544090
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	02/11/2011
Series:	English National Opera Guides Series
Edition description:	New
Pages:	84
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.20(d)

About the Author

Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) is one of Italy's most celebrated opera composers. His best-known operas include Rigoletto, Il trovatore, La traviata and Aida.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations vi

Introduction Nicholas John 7

Verdi and the Singers for 'La Traviata' Julian Budden 9

La Traviata: from Real Life to Opera Denis Arnold 17

Alexandre Dumas the Younger and 'La Dame aux Camelias' April FitsLyon 29

An Introduction to the Libretto Nicholas John 35

Thematic Guide 37

La Traviata 43

Libretto Francesco Maria Piave English Translation Edmund Tracey

Act One 53

Act Two 53

Act Three 69

Discography 76

Bibliography 80

Editorial Reviews

"Brilliantly produced and superb value."  —Sunday Times

"All these will provide the new operagoer with food for thought."  —Daily Telegraph

"Wholehearted recommendation of this valuable new series."  —TLS

From the Publisher