Act I
Violetta Valéry knows that she will die soon, exhausted by her restless life as a courtesan. At a party she is introduced to Alfredo Germont, who has been fascinated by her for a long time. Rumor has it that he has been enquiring after her health every day. The guests are amused by this seemingly naïve and emotional attitude, and they ask Alfredo to propose a toast. He celebrates true love, and Violetta responds in praise of free love. She is touched by his candid manner and honesty. Suddenly she feels faint, and the guests withdraw. Only Alfredo remains behind and declares his love. There is no place for such feelings in her life, Violetta replies. But she gives him a camellia, asking him to return when the flower has faded. He realizes this means he will see her again the following day. Alone, Violetta is torn by conflicting emotions—she doesn’t want to give up her way of life, but at the same time she feels that Alfredo has awakened her desire to be truly loved.

第一幕
維奧妮．瓦蕾莉明白自己在名妓生涯的心力交瘁折磨下將不久於人世。她在一場宴會中認識了對她傾心已久的阿弗度．傑爾蒙，傳聞他每天都在打聽她的健康狀況。賓客都拿阿弗度純情開玩笑，還要求他帶領大家舉杯祝酒。他讚頌真愛，而維奧妮則以崇尚自由愛慾作為回應。她被他的純潔誠實所感動。之後維奧妮頓感暈眩，賓客紛紛告辭，只剩阿弗度留下，對維奧妮告白。維奧妮回答說自己的人生難以容納真愛，但給了他一朵茶花，告訴他等花謝時再回來看她。他知道她的意思是讓他隔天再來相見。獨處的維奧妮深受矛盾的感情所折磨──她不想放棄自己的生活方式，但同時她也感到阿弗度喚起了她為人所真心摯愛的欲望。


INTERMISSION
中場休息


Act II
Violetta has chosen a life with Alfredo, and they enjoy their love in the country, far from society. When Alfredo discovers that this is only possible because Violetta has been selling her property, he immediately leaves for Paris to procure money. Violetta has received an invitation to a masked ball, but she no longer cares for such distractions. In Alfredo’s absence, his father, Giorgio Germont, pays her a visit. He demands that she separate from his son, as their relationship threatens his daughter’s impending marriage. But over the course of their conversation, Germont comes to realize that Violetta is not after his son’s money—she is a woman who loves unselfishly. He appeals to Violetta’s generosity of spirit and explains that, from a bourgeois point of view, her liaison with Alfredo has no future. Violetta’s resistance dwindles and she finally agrees to leave Alfredo forever. Only after her death shall he learn the truth about why she returned to her old life. She accepts the invitation to the ball and writes a goodbye letter to her lover. Alfredo returns, and while he is reading the letter, his father appears to console him. But all the memories of home and a happy family can’t prevent the furious and jealous Alfredo from seeking revenge for Violetta’s apparent betrayal.

At the masked ball, news has spread of Violetta and Alfredo’s separation. There are grotesque dance entertainments, ridiculing the duped lover. Meanwhile, Violetta and her new lover, Baron Douphol, have arrived. Alfredo and the baron battle at the gaming table and Alfredo wins a fortune: lucky at cards, unlucky in love. When everybody has withdrawn, Alfredo confronts Violetta, who claims to be truly in love with the Baron. In his rage Alfredo calls the guests as witnesses and declares that he doesn’t owe Violetta anything. He throws his winnings at her. Giorgio Germont, who has witnessed the scene, rebukes his son for his behavior. The baron challenges his rival to a duel.

第二幕 
維奧妮選擇與阿弗度一同生活，兩人避居鄉間，遠離塵囂，過著只羨鴛鴦不羨仙的生活。但當阿弗度發現維奧妮是靠變賣家產支撐兩人的洗費時，他立即動身前往巴黎籌錢。維奧妮受邀參加一場化妝舞會，但她此時已無心交際。就在阿弗度外出的期間，他的父親喬治‧傑爾蒙前來拜訪維奧妮，要求她離開阿弗度，並指出他們為人所議的戀情已經威脅到他女兒的婚事。但在兩人交談的過程中，傑爾蒙發現維奧妮並不是為了錢而跟阿弗度在一起──她的愛情是無私的付出。他轉而對維奧妮動之以情，向她勸說從世俗的觀點來看，她與阿弗度的交往絕無未來可言。維奧妮的態度從一開始的反抗逐漸緩和，最後答應永遠離開阿弗度，並想著等到自己死後，他終會知道她為何重拾舊業的真正原因。她接受了舞會的邀請，留下一封告別信給她的摯愛。待阿弗度回來，正在讀信時，他的父親喬治出現給他安慰，但喬治訴說的種種家鄉美好回憶都無法平息阿弗度因怨恨嫉妒而欲報復維奧妮背叛的衝動。

在化妝舞會上，維奧妮與阿弗度分手的消息傳了開來。有人跳著怪誕的餘興舞蹈，揶揄著被拋棄的阿弗度。在此同時，維奧妮挽著新愛人杜費爾男爵到場。阿弗度與男爵在牌桌上一決勝負，並贏了一大筆錢：他牌桌得意，情場失意。當賓客們退出宴會廳時，阿弗度碰上了維奧妮，她說自己已經愛上了男爵。阿弗度在盛怒之下叫眾人為證，宣告他不欠維奧妮一分一毫。他把贏來的錢丟在她身上。眼見這一幕的喬治‧傑爾蒙斥責兒子的行為，男爵也要求阿弗度與他決鬥。


INTERMISSION
中場休息


Act III
Violetta is dying. Her last remaining friend, Doctor Grenvil, knows that she has only a few more hours to live. Alfredo’s father has written to Violetta, informing her that his son was not injured in the duel. Full of remorse, he has told him about Violetta’s sacrifice. Alfredo wants to rejoin her as soon as possible. Violetta is afraid that he might be too late. The sound of rampant celebrations are heard from outside while Violetta is in mortal agony. But Alfredo does arrive and the reunion fills Violetta with a final euphoria. Her energy and exuberant joy of life return. All sorrow and suffering seems to have left her—a final illusion, before death claims her.

第三幕
維奧妮己經奄奄一息。她最後僅剩的摯友格林維爾醫生知道她活不過幾個小時了。阿弗度的父親寫信給維奧妮，告訴她阿弗度並未在決鬥中受傷。傑爾蒙對自己所為非常自責，也向兒子坦承維奧妮犧牲的真相。阿弗度希望兩人盡快重聚，但維奧妮恐怕他來不及見上最後一面。窗外節慶的喧鬧聲更對比出維奧妮瀕死的痛苦。阿弗度終於趕到，相會使她擁有了欣喜，重新感受到生命的愉悅。就在死亡召喚之前，最後的幻覺就是已自所有的悲傷苦難中解脫。