First performed in Venice in 1853, La Traviata is the most beautiful musical alliance between France and Italy. It is without doubt the most popular of Verdi's operas. A pared-down adaptation of La dame aux camélias, this pamphlet against bourgeois society and its vices, gambling and women, was initially shocking but is now considered one of the major works of the last two centuries. The work is full of great arias, in turn heroic, moving and rousing. In contrast to its current success, La Traviata was a resounding failure at its premiere.

This failure was due in part to the composer's choice of a woman as the heroine, and a courtesan at that. This was new for the time, and the first time in the history of opera. The choice of this subject could have offended people's sensibilities. It was in the middle of the 19th century, in a deeply Catholic Italy. The Times headlined at the time: "A work full of obscenities, horrible and dirty".

When the opera was performed again in Venice on 6 May 1854, it was a great success and has continued to grow in popularity ever since. La Traviata is now one of the most popular operas in the operatic repertoire.