Category Archives: Puccini
Gianni Schicchi
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 16th May 2014The third of Puccini’s three one act operas Gianni Schicchi was immediately recognized as a masterpiece unlike its two sibling which took longer to have their genius acknowledged. The only comparable opera is Verdi’s Falstaff. Schicchi moves like quicksilver through the 50+ minutes it takes to perform. The only pause is for ‘O mio babbino caro’…
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La Fanciulla Del West – Vienna 2013
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 7th May 2014Below is a YouTube video of a complete performance of Puccini’s La Fanciulla Del West performed on October 5, 2013 at the Vienna State Opera. As these videos have a way of disappearing because of copyright issues I’ve also added two sound files of the tenor arias from the opera sung by Jonas Kaufmann from…
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Suor Angelica
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 22nd April 2014The second of the three one act operas first performed at the Metropolitan Opera in 1918, Suor Angelica used to be the least performed of the Trittico operas. But it recently has gained in popularity. It now ranks 65 in frequency of performance of operas throughout the world. Like most of Puccini’s less performed operas…
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Paris, Puccini, and Impressionism
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 6th April 2014The following video by GiorgioFH is a brilliant compilation of French impressionist art set to the music of Puccini – specifically La Rondine and Crisantemi. Be sure to watch it full screen. Mr FH deserves a solo bow. Another reminder that Puccini was a giant of art.
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La Boheme in HD 2014
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 5th April 2014La Boheme was performed at the Met and televised in high definition on April 5, 2014. This was the 1256th time Puccini’s masterpiece of the quotidian was staged by the company. Anita Hartig was scheduled to sing Mimi, but she was felled by the flu. Her replacement was Kristine Opolais who had sung the title role…
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Il Tabarro
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 23rd March 2014Here is a complete performance recorded more than a half century ago of Puccini’s realistic one act opera Il Tabarro. Robert Merrill heads a cast that could not be matched today. This opera and its two partners will soon be 100 years old. Originally dismissed as a Grand Guignol thriller with little substance. It has gotten…
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La Fanciulla Del West
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 22nd July 2013A rousing and complete performance of Puccini original spaghetti western La Fanciulla Del West is below. If you haven’t time for the whole opera, watch the first few minutes for what may be the most imaginative beginning of an opera in years. The production is from the Royal Opera House in Stockholm. It features Nina…
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La Fanciulla Del West in HD
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 9th January 2011Puccini’s La Fanciulla Del West does not enjoy the popularity of the rest of the composer’s mature works. It never will. It’s a wonderful piece that utilizes the orchestra to a greater degree than any other of Puccini’s operas. The orchestral writing is magical. One great melody follows another; they come and go in total sync with…
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Una partita a poker
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 11th November 2010Talk to any theater person and he’ll tell you that the second act curtain should descend on the show’s strongest scene. Nobody was better at ending the second act than Giacomo Puccini. With the premiere of the Met’s revival La Fanciulla del West less than a month away, I thought I’d present a few versions of the opera’s second act finale. This the scene where the…
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Or Son Sei Mesi
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 19th September 2010Puccini’s cowboy opera, La Fanciulla del West, is returning to the Met this season after an absence of 17 years. 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the opera’s world premiere at the Met. Emmy Destinn and Enrico Caruso sang the leads under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. Puccini supervised the production which was directed by…
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