IN La Travia/a, the heart of Violetta Vatery , a Parisian courtesan, has at last been touched by the sincerity of a suitor ; but, as she at last finds happiness, she dies Of consumption. This Prelude to the final Act of tho Opera reveals all the sadness of the lovers, and near the end the phrases falter, as falters the breath of life in the breast of poor Violetta.
THE Composer did not call The Harem an 'Opera,' but a Comic Musical Play
(' Komisches Singspiel '). It is concerned with a capture by pirates, a selling into slavery, and threats of death and torture all treated in the gayest and most insouciant fashion, and this bright Overture sets the tone of the work.
It is easily followed, consisting of three sections
—(1) Very quick ; (2) Moving steadily ; (3) Very quick—of which the middle section is an anticipation of tho opening Air of the Opera and the last section a curtailed repetition of the first section.