Techniques | Puccini & Wagner | Turn of the Century | Opera

Puccini’s lifelong interest in Wagner began when he was a student. In spite of infrequent stage productions of his operas, Wagner aroused strong sentiments in Italy. Both Puccini’s teachers were determined anti-Wagnerians and, to make life even more difficult for Puccini, so was Giulio Ricordi. Some have even given Puccini’s love of Wagner as a reason for him not winning the Sonzogno prize for Le villi.

It is in the Wagnerian system of leitmotifs, where particular phrases or colours are given specific associations, that Puccini found the greatest inspiration. It was a technique that appealed to many Italian composers since it enabled the music to be put in direct service of the drama. Puccini, though, was alone amongst his contemporaries in using the technique as a means of enhancing the narrative. In Tosca, for example, Scarpia’s theme continually threatens to break the gentle bickering of the two lovers, Tosca and Cavaradossi, in the opening scenes. We do not see Scarpia, but his threatening presence is all too clear. By creating a specific association with a small, but memorable, section of music, Puccini was able to voice his character’s unspoken thoughts or reveal to his audience something that his characters could not yet know. Unlike Wagner, though, Puccini never allowed the leitmotif to dominate his textures; to do so ran the risk of threatening the voice as the true centre of all his music. Puccini’s operas also make use of the aria to good effect – a technique that Wagner avoided in his works.

Techniques | Harems, Despots & Sex-Slaves | Turn of the Century | Opera

AUTHORITATIVE

An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...

CURATED

Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.

Rock, A Life Story

Rock, A Life Story

The ultimate story of a life of rock music, from the 1950s to the present day.

David Bowie

David Bowie

Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies, with a sweep of incredible photographs.