chapter 62 puccini, toscanini, and verismo
TRANSCRIPT
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Chapter 62
Opera in Milan after Verdi:
Puccini, Toscanini, and
Verismo
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The Life of Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924)
• 1858 - born in Lucca (near Florence); father a church organist• 1880 - enters Milan Conservatory, studies with Amilcare Ponchielli• 1893 - first operatic success with Manon Lescaut• 1904 - composes Madama Butterfly • 1924 - dies in Brussels
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Giacomo Puccini
• The most successful Italian composer of opera in the generation after Verdi.
• His opera Madame Butterfly (1904) continues aspects of the older Italian number opera.
• Also mixes in modern elements that promote greater musical continuity and drama which include:
– use of narrative ensembles to tell a story.
– connects arias, duets, and choruses.
• Puccini also:– brings back themes outside of single numbers – creates groups of themes
• to suggest related groups of characters in the libretto.
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Principal Compositions by Giacomo Puccini
• Operas: 12 including– La Bohème– Madama Butterfly– Tosca– Turandot
• Chorus: miscellaneous pieces including a Mass
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Verismo
• In the 1890’s a new type of opera emerges in Italy.
• This type of opera appears as a response to competition from foreign composers – such as Richard Wagner and Georges Bizet.
• In verismo opera, characters from low social classes are compelled by elemental passions that drive them to acts of violence.
• The first important work of this type was Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana and others followed.
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Giacomo Puccini, Madama Butterfly, 1904, aria “Dovunque al mondo”
Varied strophic form
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Teatro alla Scala in Milan (“La Scala”)
• “La Scala” was Italy’s most prominent opera house in the late 19th century.
• By the 1880’s, its repertory featured the newest Italian works as well as old favorites and classics (including those of non-Italian origin).
• A high level of musicianship was achieved by this theater under the leadership of Arturo Toscanini.
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The Life of Arturo Toscanini (1867–1957)
• 1857 - born in Parma, studies cello at local conservatory
• 1886 - begins career of operatic conductor in Rio de Janeiro, later
in Turin
• 1896 - conducts the premiere of Puccini’s La Bohème in Turin
• 1898 - appointed chief conductor at La Scala in Milan
• 1908 - conducts at Metropolitan Opera in New York
• 1928 - music director of New York Philharmonic Orchestra
• 1937 - conducts the NBC Symphony Orchestra, an organization
created expressly for him
• 1957 - dies in New York