This documentary presents an anatomy of Verdi's La Traviata, with Kathleen Cassello, Roberto Alagna, Leo Nucci and Gianluigi Gelmetti guiding viewers through the work, explaining Verdi's intentions and how he expressed these in his music. The story of the opera is traced through substantial extracts drawn from acclaimed productions by Francesca Zambello, Terry Edwards, Peter Hall and Ruth Berghaus. Seen singing the central role of Violetta are Kathleen Cassello, Angela Gheorghiu, Marie McLaughlin and Carla Basto and there are contributions from Roberto Alagna - Alfredo to Cassello's Violetta - and Leo Nucci who appears opposite Angela Gheorghiu as Germot.