Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was an Italian composer who is considered one of the most important opera composers of the 19th century. Born in Le Roncole, a small village in the province of Parma, Verdi showed musical talent at an early age. Despite initial setbacks, such as being rejected by the Milan Conservatory, he resolutely pursued his musical career and established himself as the leading opera composer of his time.

His most popular opera by far is “La Traviata”, which premiered on March 6, 1853 at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. The opera is based on the play “La Dame aux camélias” by Alexandre Dumas the Younger and tells the tragic love story between the Parisian courtesan Violetta Valéry and the young Alfredo Germont. The title “La Traviata” translates as “She who has lost her way” and refers to Violetta's social status.

At the premiere, the opera initially met with mixed reactions, which was partly due to the casting of the leading role with the then 38-year-old Fanny Salvini-Donatelli, who was perceived by the audience as unsuitable for the role of the young, terminally ill Violetta. Verdi wrote in a letter after the premiere: “La Traviata last night was a fiasco. Was it my fault or the singers'? Time will tell.” Despite this initial failure, “La Traviata” went on to become one of the most frequently performed operas in the world and is now regarded as a brilliant masterpiece of the operatic repertoire.

Verdi's ability to musically portray profound human emotions and reflect social issues of his time contributes significantly to the timeless relevance of "La Traviata."