“Qui finisce l’opera perché il Maestro è morto.” – “This is where the opera ends because the composer died.” With these words, the conductor Arturo Toscanini puts down his baton and breaks off the premiere of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” in the middle of the third act. The black curtain descends, a trembling silence reigns in the full stands of the Scala in Milan. Comes “Viva Puccini!” suddenly from the depths of the hall. A storm of applause breaks out.
The great composer was unable too complete his “Turandot” before he died on the morning of November 29,1924 from a malignant tumor in the throat. At that time he was receiving treatment in a clinic in brussels. He survived the delicate throat surgery and his doctor promised a speedy recovery. But shortly afterwards the 65-year-old died of a heart attack.
The news of his death spread like wildfire.Italian flags are on the streets of Brussels. A moment of silence will be held in the Italian Parliament, and the Scala in Milan will remain closed that evening.A few days later, on December 3, the official funeral service will take place in Milan Cathedral. The Cardinal-Archbishop himself celebrates the funeral mass, Toscanini conducts the Requiem from Puccini’s early operatic work “Edgar”, Benito Mussolini gives the funeral speech. the houses in the city are wearing mourning flowers, and despite the pouring rain, thousands of people pay their last respects to the maestro.
Wild birds, opera librettos and gorgeous women
It is a tribute to the world of music - then as now – a composer who enriched the great repertoire of operas with fantastic sparkling treasures.Whether in “La Bohème”,”Tosca” or “Madama Butterfly”,Puccini paints his music with unique colors. And although he was first mocked as Verdi’s epigone (Tucholsky called him “the little man’s verdi”) and was later accused of a penchant for kitsch, Puccini’s music has always struck straight to the heart. it is indeed no coincidence that its tragic heroines Mimì, Floria Tosca, Cio-Cio San and Co. still among the most notable and famous roles today, including “O mio babbino caro” (“Gianni Schicchi”) and ”Nessun dorma” (“Turandot”) one of the most popular and popular opera arias ever.
Puccini’s life was almost as turbulent as his operas. As a scion of a conventional family of composers, his musical path was predetermined. When the young Giacomo was promised a position as municipal organist and bandmaster in his Tuscan hometown of Lucca, he was only five years old.His 57 organ compositions, written between the ages of 12 and 21, are now evidence of a lesser-known side of the opera master.
Tobacco, women, fast cars – Puccini’s passions went far beyond music
But it wasn’t just music that fueled his passion. For example, he preferred fast vehicles. He named his motorboat Cio-Cio San, and after an accident with his Lancia he was in a wheelchair for weeks. He was also addicted to tobacco. he was rarely seen without the glee, which eventually led to his downfall. And he liked to hunt. Wild birds, opera librettos and
The Italian never really let anything go wrong.No one could keep him away from his many affairs, not even his pathologically jealous wife, Elvira, with whom he had a toxic marriage. However, neither of them could finaly break away from each other. Alma Mahler-Werfel, experienced in passionate love affairs, described Puccini as one of the most beautiful people she had ever seen: “He was a Don Juan, and women were separated because of him.”
The dramatic and tragic climax of his blindness was the suicide of the foster girl Doria Manfredi, who was publicly accused and vilified by Puccini’s wife for her sexual relationship with Puccini. Manfredi protested her innocence to the end, but succumbed to the charges and poisoned herself with mercuric chloride.The reason is that Giacomo Puccini created a monument to her with the moving scene of the death of Liù, who kills herself in front of everyone of her beloved prince in the opera ”Turandot”. It was the last scene that the maestro was able to complete in his entire life. After that he died. Viva Puccini!
Therefore,1 December 2024 6:00 p.m
puccini: Tosca
Dirk Kaftan/Hermes Helfricht/Daniel Johannes Mayr (director), Silvia Gatto (director)
Therefore, 1 december 2024 7:30 p.m
Puccini-Gala
West Pomeranian Philharmonic Orchestra, Florian Csizmadia (conductor)
Mr. 6th December 2024 7:30 p.m
Puccini: Factors
Dirk Kaftan/Hermes Helfricht/Daniel Johannes Mayr (director),Silvia Gatto (director)
i,December 7 2024 7:30 p.m
Puccini-Gala
west Pomeranian Philharmonic Orchestra, Florian Csizmadia (conductor)
Puccini-Gala
West Pomeranian Philharmonic Orchestra, Florian Csizmadia (conductor)
Puccini: Madama Butterfly
Month, December 18 2024 7:30 p.m
Puccini: tosca
Puccini: Factors
Barbara Dobrzanska/Pauliina Linnosaari (Floria Tosca), Arthur Espiritu (Mario Cavaradossi), Leonardo Lee/Kihun yoon (Baron Scarpia), Klaus Schneider (Spoletta), Liangliang Zhao (Angelotti), Luiz Molz (Mesner), Georg Fritzsch (Leitung) , John Dew (Director)
terminal
do, December 26 2024 7:30 p.m
Puccini: La bohème
Evmorfia Metaxaki (Mimì), Konstantinos Klironomos (Rodolfo), Gerard Quinn (Marcello), Jacob Scharfman (Schaunard), Changjun Lee (Colline), Stefan Vladar (Leitung), Angela Denoke (regie)
What were the main challenges in Giacomo Puccini’s personal life?
It appears that you have shared a detailed article about the composer Giacomo Puccini, including details about his death, the impact he had on music, his personal life, and upcoming events dedicated to his work. Hear’s a summary of the key points mentioned in the text:
Summary of giacomo Puccini
- death: Puccini passed away on November 29, 1924, in Brussels due to complications following throat surgery and a subsequent heart attack. His funeral was a significant event in Italy, with national mourning observed.
- Musical Contributions: Puccini is celebrated for his operas, including “La Bohème,” “Tosca,” and “Madama Butterfly.” he is known for his emotional and evocative musical style, which features prominent tragic heroines and beloved arias like “O mio babbino caro” and “Nessun dorma.”
- Personal Life: Puccini had a tumultuous personal life, characterized by passionate love affairs and a challenging marriage with his wife, Elvira. His personal struggles included addiction to tobacco and a fondness for fast cars.
- Tragedy in His Life: The suicide of his foster daughter, Doria Manfredi, deeply affected him. Her tragic end was mirrored in his work, particularly in the character liù in “Turandot,” highlighting the intertwining of his personal and artistic life.
- Tribute to Puccini: The upcoming events dedicated to Puccini’s legacy include performances of “Tosca,” a Puccini Gala, and a concert titled “Puccini: Factors,” showcasing his enduring influence in the world of opera.
The article paints a picture of Puccini as not only a profound musician but also a man of complexity,whose life and works continue to resonate with audiences today.