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Composer Profile 10
Giacomo Puccini
The Merchant of the Love Song.
Almost single-handedly, Puccini’s arias define the passionate operatic love song.
Born and bred in the home of opera, Italy, Puccini dedicated most of his adult life to writing the perfect opera.
After some youthful casting around, he wrote little else but opera.
On account of his perfectionism, Puccini’s operas are relatively few; nevertheless, many of those are among the most famous in all of opera.
Listening to this collection of great arias, it is hard to believe that he had so little success in his life. His soaring, swooning melodies are instantly recognisable for their human drama and strong emotion.
Here’s a set of the most famous:
- Il Trittico – Gianni Schicchi – ‘O mio babbino caro’ (O my beloved daddy)
- La Boheme – ‘Che gelida manina’ (What a freezing little hand, Act I)
- La Boheme – ‘O soave fanciulla’ (O lovely girl, Act I)
- La Boheme – ‘Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi’ (Yes, I am called Mimi, Act I)
- Madama Butterfly – ‘Un bel di vedremo’ (One fine day, Act II)
- Manon Lescaut – ‘Donna non vidi mai simile a questa!’ (I never before beheld such a lady!)
- Tosca – ‘Recondita armonia’ (What subtle harmony, Act I)
- Tosca – ‘Vissi d'arte’ (I lived for my art, Act II)
- Tosca – ‘E lucevan la stelle’ (And the stars shone, Act III)
- Turandot – ‘Segnore, ascolta!’ (My lord, hear me!, Act I)
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