a great love story ... in avignon...

Writing a book is a great privilege because it enables the writer to consolidate thoughts and to preserve them for the future... Thoughts which turn into words on the keyboard are as good as any time capsule... When I thought about what thoughts should be included in FRENCH ESSENCE, my second book published a couple of years ago, I chose to include some about the city of Avignon. I wanted to write about the Avignon that I know... I wanted to share a moment with my readers that has stayed long in my memory. So I did... I wrote about an evening at the opera and the love story of Violetta and Alfredo from Verdi's La Traviata... even as I recount this now I am humming away... As it's Valentines Day and the moment to celebrate romance I thought you might like to read this extract and be reminded of a heartbreaking love story...

'I believe in romance and I believe that the world is a brighter and better place with romance.

I believe in the romance of history – the tales of battles lost and fought. I believe in the romance of architecture and the secrets concealed within and I believe in the old fashioned, tug at the heart strings, gut wrenching kind of romance that makes you weep and hope at the same time. Combine an historical setting such as the Opera Theatre in Avignon with Guiseppe Verdi’s epic love story La Traviata, and there is no greater romance...There is nothing so compelling as the unlikely love between a courtesan and a nobleman, think modern day Pretty Woman or the cabaret film Moulin Rouge. Opera lovers and romance lovers, we are all equally impatient to be immersed in the turbulent love affair between Violetta Valery and Alfredo Germont. 

The curtain rises on Violetta’s salon in Paris and a party is in progress to celebrate her return to health after a long period of illness. Violetta is introduced to Alfredo, a friend of her acquaintance Count Gastone. Gastone is telling Violetta of Alfredo’s deepest devotion and informing her that Alfredo visited her everyday to pay his respects when she was ill.

Violetta, still a little weak, is resting as her guests enjoy the party, the orchestra and the dancing. She has acknowledged to Alfredo that she is indebted to him for his concern and so he, much enamoured, stays by her side and declares that he has loved her from the very first moment he saw her. In that instant every woman in the theatre has fallen in love with Alfredo and we inch forward on our seats to wait for Violetta’s response. This is that moment when a heart is laid open and all is bared with such vulnerability and with the full knowledge that rejection is possible. Alfredo is the ultimate brave and sincere gentleman – the kind of man we women dream of. Violetta is at first reluctant to accept his attentions but she finds something compelling about Alfredo’s innocence and truthfulness so agrees to meet with him again.

Round one to Alfredo.

A romance is born and three months later Alfredo and Violetta are living together in the countryside outside of Paris. Violetta has renounced her former life as a courtesan and fallen completely in love with Alfredo. This is where I (and I suspect all the other romantics in the theatre) want the story to finish, on a note of happiness, of romance and deep long lasting love but tonight, ‘happily ever after’ is not to be. 

Alfredo learns that Violetta has had to sell all her belongings to finance this life of domestic bliss in the countryside and so he leaves for Paris to re-organise their affairs. During his absence, Alfredo’s father arrives and begs Violetta to finish her relationship with Alfredo for the sake of their family’s reputation. Although Germont is surprised by her elegance and sophistication, Violetta’s scandalous life as a courtesan has threatened to destroy his daughter’s engagement. Deep down in our hearts we are hoping that Violetta will not listen to Alfredo’s father, but she is a nobler creature than her audience, so she agrees for the sake of Alfredo and his family. When Alfredo returns home, unaware of his father’s demands, Violetta reassures him of her love and departs for Paris. Her parting letter explains her hasty retreat without mention of his father and informs Alfredo that their affair is over. Alfredo is devastated.

The audience is seething; Alberto’s father has altered the course of our heroine’s love and in true parental fashion not been honest about his meddling. We have faith in Alberto that he will not give up Violetta without a fight but misinformation and bad timing is always the death knell for love. The mood in the theatre is tense. I feel as if Alfredo and Violetta are singing only to me and that their pain is my pain. Looking across the balcony, I see I am not the only one enthralled.

Alberto rushes back to Paris to confront Violetta at a party she will be attending. Blind to her unfaltering love, the sight of her with another man, Baron Douphol, sends Alfredo into a rage and straight for the gaming tables. Violetta asks Alfredo to leave in order to avoid further unpleasantness or in the worse case a duel between the two men. Love and jealousy are dangerous partners and Alfredo becomes more than ever convinced that Violetta no longer loves him. In temper, he throws his winnings at her feet and announces that he has fully paid for her services during the time they spent together. Shocked and disgusted by his behaviour Violetta’s companion challenges Alfredo to a duel.

The lover’s quarrel and separation wastes precious time.

Six months pass before Alfredo learns of his father’s hand in his heartbreak. Alfredo’s father writes to Violetta to inform her that the duel was fought without mortal consequence and that Alberto who knows the truth is on his way to beg her forgiveness. Alberto, at last by Violetta’s side, arranges to make plans for their future life away from Paris in the countryside. Tragically he is too late, her tuberculosis is critical and the doctor cannot save her. Their idyllic life together can be one of only moments. Violetta knowing her time is short acknowledges his pain and torment, accepts his infinite love and dies reconciled in his arms.

There is not a dry eye in the theatre.

Hundreds of tears are shed for Violetta and Alberto and at the same time, I think we are shedding a tear for the memories of our own broken hearts – there is a little bit of lost and torturous love in all of us tonight. Watching the courtship that follows after boy meets girl, anguishing over the break-up, joyous at the final reconciliation and then the tragedy of found love that is lost too soon is emotionally charging. However short-lived is this grand amour the romantics amongst us are content; it is not the length of the love affair that is important but the depth of the feelings. Real romance is the knowledge and experience of profound love.'

More about Avignon later in the week...xv

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image of the carousel in avignon  - vicki archer