This year is the centenary of the death of the famous Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini, born in 1858. Most of his 16 operas are still performed today, his aria ‘Nessum dorma’ from Turandot having been sung by Luciano Pavarotti for the BBC television coverage of the Football World Cup held in Italy in 1990. Born in Lucca, Tuscany, Puccini began his musical career as a church organist, subsequently studying at the Milan Conservatory. His most famous operas are Manon Lescaut (1893), La bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), Madame Butterfly (1904) and Turandot (1926), which he did not quite finish before he died of throat cancer; it was completed by the composer and pianist Franco Alfano (1875-1954). At Puccini’s death, the whole of Italy went into mourning, and Mussolini spoke at his funeral.
On this occasion, a selection of his vocal works will be sung by Perihan N. Artan, Kenan Dağaşan, Alper Göçeri, Efe Kışlalı, Mine Kurtoğlu, Bülent Külekçi and Ayten Telek, members of the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet company. Piano accompaniment, meanwhile, will be supplied by Fügen Yiğitgil.
John Shakespeare Dyson
Issue 67, December 2024
Beauty in the Wilderness
