Essential Puccini
Think of Italian opera and there’s a fair chance something by Giacomo Puccini will pop into your head. From Luciano Pavarotti belting "Nessun dorma" at the 1990 World Cup to Maria Callas pouring out her heart as Tosca in "Vissi d’arte".
Read more…There are few composers more able to manipulate the tear ducts than Puccini. He writes soaring melodies for voice but it is often the orchestra which is pulling the emotional strings. Listen to the depiction of Paris at the start of 'Il tabarro' or the Japonaiserie in the intermezzo from 'Madama Butterfly' for wonderful examples of aural scene painting.
All the favourites are here: the poet Rodolfo falling in love with Mimì in 'La bohème'; the diva’s jealousy piqued by the evil Baron Scarpia in Tosca; the innocence of Cio-Cio-San, married at 15 years of age to an American naval officer who deserts her. The three opera that make up 'Il trittico' are worth exploring too, especially the one-act comedy 'Gianni Schicchi', which features the hit aria "O mio babbino caro".
And we finish with 'Turandot', ending where Puccini died, after having composed the death of Liù, who commits suicide rather than reveal Prince Calaf's secret.