Puccini in Context

Enriches our appreciation of Puccini's operas by exploring their original contexts and the political and social debates informing performances today.

Alexandra Wilson (Edited by)

9781108835589, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 September 2023

350 pages
28 x 19 x 2.5 cm, 0.728 kg

Exploring the many dimensions of Giacomo Puccini's historical legacy and significance, this book provides new perspectives on the life and work of a much-loved opera composer and demonstrates how political concerns shape the way we approach and perform his works in the present day. Accessibly written chapters by a range of international experts explore Puccini's interests, attitudes, and relationships, and examine how his works reflected the cultural, political, and social zeitgeist of their time. The essays first map Puccini's personal and professional networks, the regions and cities that meant so much to him, and his travels for both work and leisure. They go on to probe the composer's attitudes towards contemporary developments in music, literature, film, and drama and investigate his collaboration with librettists, publishers, singers, and conductors. The book closes with chapters on Puccini's compositional legacy, performance history, relationship with popular culture, and place in the international operatic canon.

Part I. Formative Influences: 1. Forefathers and teachers Alexandra Wilson
2. Contemporaries and competitors Richard Erkens
3. Puccini's women Helen M. Greenwald
Part II. Puccini's Places: 4. Puccini's Tuscany Axel Körner
5. Puccini in Milan Ditlev Rindom
6. Puccini's travels: western Europe Flora Willson
7. Puccini's travels: central Europe Richard Erkens
8. Puccini the long-distance traveller Ellen Lockhart
Part III. Influences and Interests: 9. Musical influences, parallels and borrowings Nigel Simeone
10. Italian literature of Puccini's day Suzanne Stewart-Steinberg
11. Drama and acting in Puccini's Italy Ditlev Rindom
12. Puccini and early film Christy Thomas Adams
13. Puccini and technology Nigel Simeone
Part IV. Bringing Puccini to the Stage: 14. Puccini's librettists Helen M. Greenwald
15. Music publishing in Puccini's Italy Christy Thomas Adams
16. Puccini's theatrical vision Helen M. Greenwald
17. Puccini's singers Hilary Poriss
18. Puccini's conductors
Part V. Image and Reputation: 19. Puccini in pictures Alessandra Palidda
20. Puccini's Italian critics Jane Sylvester
21. Memorialisation and biography Arnold Jacobshagen
Part VI. Puccini through a political lens: 22. Puccini and religion Andrew Holden
23. Puccini and politics Ben Earle
24. Gender politics in Puccini's operas Flora Willson
25. The racial politics of Madama Butterfly and Turandot Kunio Hara
Part VII. Interpreting Puccini: 26. Editing Puccini Ditlev Rindom
27. Puccini on video Emanuele Senici
28. Interpreting Puccini on stage and on disc Hugo Shirley
29. Producing Puccini today David Levin
Part VIII. Legacy: 30. Puccini's Legacy, influence and meaning Leon Botstein
31. Puccini in popular culture John Snelson
32. Puccini and the canon Alexandra Wilson
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Opera [AVGC9]