Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) wrote a wide variety of operas over the course of his lifetime. Today he is regarded as one of the most beloved opera composers, and several of his operas are repeatedly among the most performed worldwide.
1. Le villi, 1884 (The Wraiths)
Le villi was originally performed in one act and was very well received, though not considered a “success.” It takes place during the Middle Ages in the Black Forest of Germany, and the story itself was derived from folk legends.
2. Edgar, 1889
Edgar premiered at La Scala, Italy’s most famous opera house, in Milan. It was presented in three acts and was based on Alfred de Musset’s play, La coupe et les lèvres. The beginning of the first aria would later be mirrored in Puccini’s own Madama Butterfly.
3. Manon Lescaut, 1893
Manon Lescaut, based on a French novel by Abbé Prévost, was presented in four acts after three years of preparation. It premiered in Turin rather than Milan so as not to relive Puccini’s last failure there, nor to compete with Verdi’s opera Falstaff. Puccini rose to fame with Manon Lescaut, as it was an immediate success and was consequently performed all over Italy and even abroad.
4. La Bohème, 1896 (The Bohemian Life)
La Bohème, an opera presented in four acts, premiered at the Teatro Regio in Turin. The story was derived from Henry Murger’s novel, Scenes de la vie de Boheme, and it is one that has become all the more familiar today after being modernized in Jonathon Larson’s rock musical RENT.
5. Tosca, 1900
Based on the play La Tosca by Victorien Sardou, Puccini’s Tosca premiered in Rome where the opera is set. Before its premiere, Puccini’s publisher found the final act of the opera (of three acts) quite disappointing. However, it was not altered and premiered as planned, receiving mixed reviews from critics.
6. Madama Butterfly, 1904
Having seen the American play of the same name, Puccini was moved by the story so strongly (without even understanding most of the language) that he decided to base an opera on it. While composing the opera, Puccini devoted much time to studying “japonaiserie” to gather a fuller understanding of the context.
7. La fanciulla del west, 1910 (The Girl of the West)
Presented in three acts, this opera was based on David Belasco’s play The Girl of the Golden West. The story takes place during the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s. It premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. This was the first world premiere ever to occur there.
8. La rondine, 1917 (The Swallow)
Aside from Le villi and Edgar, this is Puccini’s least performed opera today. La rondine contains elements from other famous operas. La traviata, like La rondine, has a story of a woman who is unable to find love due to society’s views. Die fledermaus, too, unofficially donates a scene to La rondine in which a maid, disguised in her mistress’s garments, meets her own mistress at a party.
9. Il trittico, 1918 (The Triptych)
After having pondered the idea for some time, Puccini created three operas with intention of performance together. Within Il trittico are “Il tabarro,” “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi.” Lacking a common theme, the three premiered together at the Metropolitan Opera House. Though the reviews were favorable for the three, Gianni Schicchi was the most well received.
10. Turandot, 1926
Puccini’s tenth and final opera was based on a play by Carlo Gozzi of the same name. It premiered at La Scala two years after Puccini’s diagnosis, treatment and death due to throat cancer. As the opera had been left unfinished, Franco Alfano was given the task of completing the final pages prior to its premiere.
Source:
Charles Osborne, “The Complete Operas of Puccini: A Critical Guide”
