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Verdi – Libiamo Ne Lieti Calici (Brindisi from La Traviata) Easy piano solo sheet music
Sung in the first act of Verdi’s masterpiece, during a late-night Parisian shindig, La Traviata’s Brindisi is a swooning, waltz-time celebration of the pleasures of love, good company and wine:
“Ah, let’s enjoy the cup, the cup and the chants,
the embellished night and the laughter;
let the new day find us in this paradise …”
One of the most captivating songs in opera, the Brindisi is the musical equivalent of a glass of the finest Champagne to start a party. Listen to it, and you’ll know what it is to throw caution to the wind.
A hymn to impossible love: what is the story of “La Traviata”?
The opera, with music by Verdi and adapted by Francesco Maria Piave from the novel by Alexandre Dumas Jr., ‘The Lady of the Camellias’, is divided into three acts and tells the story of love in its many aspects: the happy encounter, the pleasure of bodies and minds, the fight against conventions, social condemnation, the pain of separation and finally, death. So what is the story of “La Traviata”, this tragedy of love?
Summary of the history of Verdi’s opera “La Traviata”: first act or born love
Violetta Valery, the protagonist of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera – the soprano, is a very famous courtesan. During a party in a Parisian hotel lounge, Gastón, an admirer of Violetta, introduces her to one of her friends, Alfredo Germont, a young man from a good family, the protagonist (the first tenor). Verdi celebrates his life and encounters through the well-known toast “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” (“Let us move in these happy cups”). Alfredo declares her love for him and Violetta hesitates for this true love.
Summary of the history of Verdi’s opera “La Traviata”: the second act or the convention that breaks
Alfredo and Violetta live together near Paris, but when Alfredo finds out that Violetta is selling furniture and jewelry for the expenses, he returns to Paris to solve the financial problems. Then Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont, the first baritone, forces Violetta to break off her relationship with Alfredo to protect her family’s reputation, because her relationship is not socially acceptable. Violetta, although disgusted, accepts and, after a passionate confrontation with Alfredo (the famous aria “Amami, Alfredo!”), she returns to Paris.
At Flora’s house party in Paris, Alfredo sees Violetta accompanied by Baron Douphol, and, blinded by her jealousy, throws the money he has earned against the Baron at Violetta’s feet. All the guests and also Giorgio condemn Alfredo, but Violetta forgives him because she knows that he acts like this out of love.
Summary of the history of Verdi’s opera “La Traviata”: third act or the finale
Seriously ill, Violetta is lying in bed. She finds out that Giorgio told her son the whole truth, making him aware of the sacrifice she made. Alfredo returns to Paris to apologize. When Alfredo arrives, Violetta feels the hope of love reborn, and she would like to live this love, but she faints from it. Violetta dies in Alfredo’s arms, suffering from consumption.
