With all due respect, I venture to paraphrase Shakespeare to point out that "never was a story of more woe than this of Violetta and her Alfredo".
How did it all happen? Alfredo Germont himself tells here for this modest blog how the tragedy unfolded:
"Despite her pallor, Violetta Valéry, my Violetta, was a woman as dazzling as a sunny summer day. I cannot give more details because I had only seen her from afar, in the company of my great friend Gaston, of whom she was, I must admit, her lover. Ignorant of my secret love for her, good old Gaston invited me one day to be his companion to Violetta's salon where, as usual, my beloved from afar was giving a party to be attended by the tout Paris.
"Once there, I was introduced to her and in less than a minute I fell at his feet. As I knew she was just recovering from a nagging illness, I expressed my wishes for everlasting good health. Next, I thought of declaring my love for her but Gaston and Violetta's friends called me to make a toast to Violeta and to life when I was in the middle of it. Timorous at first, I finally managed to enthuse the whole audience, who ended up singing along with me and Violetta in a brilliant chorus.
"Shortly before we passed into the dining room, and seeing that Violeta was delaying a little – perhaps on purpose - I found myself alone with her for the first time and right there I declared my eternal love to her. Violeta did not seem very sure of the seriousness of my intentions but later, when we said goodbye, she gave me a flower, telling me in my ear to come back "when the flower had withered". I returned home filled with joy.
"I don't want to bother you with details about the further steps of our engagement. What is certain is that, three months later, we found ourselves living in the country house that Violetta had in the outskirts of Paris because, I must say, although I was the son of nobles, I did not have a country house, neither in the outskirts of Paris nor anywhere else.
"And this is when my father Giorgio comes in and the tragedy begins. Attentive guardian of the family's honor, Giorgio Germont took a very dim view of the fact that I had " bedded", he said, with a "courtesan"... My sister's marriage to a very noble nobleman was approaching, and it was not in anyone's interest that my future brother-in-law should learn that I was living in sin with that courtesan, my love. So he found nothing better than approach the country house while I was frolicking in the meadows and gardens, and convince Violetta that she should abandon me. Of course, I learned that later. What I found on my return was a letter in which Violetta confessed to me that she had entered the phase of disaffection. Next to the letter, there was an invitation from Flora, Violetta's soul friend, to an evening in Paris. There was no doubt – I mistakenly thought –, my former friend Gaston had to be behind all this.
"Pained as only one who has been the victim of an infamous betrayal by a loved one can be, I left the house and headed for Paris. On the appointed day, I went to Flora's house to confront Violetta face to face. I claimed her felony, perhaps inelegantly, because the whole crowd turned against me. Even my father scolded me, who appeared there by surprise, looking for me (now I know why). Irritated, Flora and her guests suggested that I had to leave the room. That's what I did, but not before I had told Violetta a few truths... truths? Oh, how wrong was I wandering through life. Violetta, my Violetta, even confessed that she was having an affair with Gaston, lying to me and to herself. What pain!
"And all because I'd have listened to my father.
"Violetta was already consumed by tuberculosis when my father confessed everything to me: the sacrifice she had made for him, for my sister and for the honor of a family she did not know. Violetta did love me and had always loved me. And now, helpless and sick, she was only waiting for death. I ran to see her, praying to God and all the saints in heaven that it was not too late: I needed her forgiveness more than the air I breathed.
"The Lord, immensely kind, granted us a rest. According to the doctor, Violetta had only a few hours left. But I felt her revive with my arrival. We even made plans, we would leave Paris, we would travel. But she had no strength left. She announced her death to me with terrible words: you did not save me, she said."
La Traviata, Act III - Violetta and Alfredo's duet "Parigi o cara"
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