Giacomo Puccini

Puccini and Verismo Opera

A detailed studies of each of Puccini’s operas and a selection of his other works compared to the works of contemporaries. The course followed Puccini’s life chronologically from the poverty of his childhood when he was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps as a church composer, his student days when his ambition was to become a Symphonic composer to his eventual success as an opera composer. Many incidents in Puccini’s life were good enough for opera plots themselves and make his a very interesting story. Apart from the 12 operas the course covered some of his instrumental music and songs. I ran this course at Crayford Manor (Bexley College) May-July 1998 with a one day taster in July 2008 and again October-December 2008.

Puccini – Massacre at the Opera

Find out about the composer who liked to give his heroines (and some heroes) gory deaths. In just 12 operas the body count is nearly 20 but despite this his melodies are among the most beautiful and best-loved of all time. This talk was for the DfE Music Society in April 2002 and the HSE European Society in April 2005.

Puccini Chronology

Below is the set of spreadsheets I created for the courses. Puccini Life and Works