At a glittering midnight supper in her Paris salon, courtesan Violetta Valéry welcomes young Alfredo Germont, who proposes a toast to love and wine ('Libiamo ne' lieti calici'). When a sudden coughing fit leaves Violetta faint, Alfredo confesses he has loved her from afar for a year; she gives him a camellia flower, telling him to bring it back when it has faded—tomorrow. Left alone after the guests depart, Violetta is torn between the unfamiliar dream of true love ('Ah, fors'è lui') and her determination to live purely for pleasure ('Sempre libera'). Three months later, Violetta and Alfredo are living idyllically in the countryside outside Paris, with Violetta secretly selling off her jewels and carriages to pay their bills. While Alfredo is away in Paris, his father Giorgio Germont arrives: he tells Violetta that Alfredo's scandalous liaison with a former courtesan is ruining the engagement of Alfredo's pure young sister ('Pura siccome un angelo'). Heartbroken and knowing her tuberculosis will soon kill her anyway, Violetta agrees to make Alfredo believe she no longer loves him ('Dite alla giovine'), erupting in one final cry of love ('Amami, Alfredo!') before disappearing. Months later during the Paris Carnival, Violetta lies dying of tuberculosis in poverty, abandoned by her fair-weather salon friends. She re-reads a letter from Giorgio Germont telling her that he has finally revealed her selfless sacrifice to Alfredo, who is rushing back to beg her forgiveness ('Teneste la promessa...'). Looking in the mirror at her wasted face, she sighs 'It is too late!' and bids farewell to her past dreams ('Addio, del passato'). Moments later Alfredo bursts in; they dream of leaving Paris together ('Parigi, o cara'), until Violetta experiences a sudden, illusory surge of strength ('È strano! Cessarono gli spasimi...') and collapses dead in Alfredo's arms.