CD REVIEW -
PUCCINI
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC
SINFONIA OF LONDON JOHN WILSON
Chandos CHSA 5385
[TT 62:41]
Runner-up to Verdi
in the greatest Italian opera
composer stakes, Giacomo Antonio
Domenico Michele Secondo Maria
Puccini (1858-1924) wrote a lot
of orchestral music before the
success of his opera 'Manon
Lescaut' in 1893 led to him
being recognised internationally.
He went on to compose three
present day staples of the genre:
'La Bohème', 'Tosca'
and 'Madama Butterfly'. "Nessun
dorma" from his
unfinished last opera 'Turandot'
is probably the best-known tenor
aria in the world.
This album has 14
pieces including student
compositions and orchestral
extracts from his earliest
operas. The longest, Capriccio
sinfonico, is 10'49"
and was Puccini's graduation
piece at the Milan Conservatory
in 1883. A further 11 tracks do
not overstay their welcome beyond
4'29". Two, Preludio to
Act ll and Intermezzo
before Act lll, come from
the aforementioned 'Manon
Lescaut'.
There are some
examples in the music here of the
rich orchestration and emotional
depth indicative of what was to
follow in the composer's
celebrated career. Recently
described on BBC Radio 3 as a
"master of melody", he
was seldom dull. The stylish
orchestral playing maintains the
highest standard already set on
the many Chandos discs by the SOL
and Wilson, reviews of which can
be found on these pages. If you
are buying, the best price is on
the record company's website.
Footnote on
Puccini, the man: Tuscany-born,
he loved fast cars and
motorboats. His private life was
as drama filled as his opera
scores. He was a lifelong chain
smoker of cigars and cigarettes
and died in Brussels from
complications following throat
cancer treatment. It was reckoned
that his works had earned him
four million dollars.
©
Peter Burt, March 2026
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