Based on Alexandre Dumas the Younger's notorious novel and melodrama LA DAME AUX CAMELIAS, LA TRAVIATA first saw the light of day in Venice in 1853. Three years later it premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in the center of London and caused a furor in its portrayal of a prostitute trying to cope in an unfeeling and overwhelmingly patriarchal world.
Presented by music broadcaster Tom Service and historian Amanda Vickery, this documentary looked at the opera's origins, both musically as well as textually, and tried to reconstruct the first performance through location filming, as well as having the presenters visit various archives.
The content was especially illuminating, as we discovered how Verdi, as well as the impresario involved in the London production challenged established conventions of femininity as well as pointing out the hypocrisies underlying many Victorian approaches to prostitution. LA TRAVIATA retains much of its significance today, as it portrays a central female character taking control of her life, despite the best attempts of her lover (and his family) to control it.
There were one or two jarring elements. Vickery undoubtedly has a telegenic personality, but she should do something about her choice of clothing as well as her hair-style. The sight of lank strands of hair partly obscuring her face proved disconcerting. There was also the problem of historical accuracy; although describing a performance taking place at Her Majesty's Theatre, much of the location filming was done in London's Haymarket Theatre, which is (and was) a different theater altogether, situated opposite Her Majesty's. It would have been prudent for the filmmakers to point this out.