Symphony San Jose pays tribute to Giacomo Puccini, the great Italian opera composer on the 100th anniversary of his death. Conductor Carlos Vieu returns to the podium in this retrospective that will feature operatic highlights from Giacomo Puccini’s early, middle, and late career masterpieces.
Three of opera’s leading soloists, Jennifer Schuler, Ben Gulley and Gary Simpson, along with the Symphony San Jose Chorale, perform some of Puccini’s most memorable arias, duets, and choruses, including “The Humming Chorus,” “O mio bambino caro,” and “Nessun Dorma.” The program features selections from Manon Lescaut, La Bohème, Madame Butterfly, Turandot, Le Villi, Il Tabarro, Tosca, and more…
Fun Facts:
- Puccini was considered one of the most commercially successful composers of all time. He was worth roughly $200 million dollars when he died—a stark contrast to his youth, when he had to pawn his possessions regularly just to cover basic expenses.
- Puccini’s full name was Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini. He was named after four recent ancestors.
Where Have I Heard It Before:
- Perhaps the most famous opera composer of all time, his music is regularly used in movies, television shows, commercials, and video games. Among many memorable cinematic placements, O mio bambino caro was featured in Room with a View, and The Humming Chorus was featured in House of Gucci.
Concert Length: Approximately 1 hour 50 minutes, with intermission.
These performances are made possible thanks to a gift from ABC Foundation. 40Additional support comes from John and Jane Doe, and SJCO Inc.
ArtWork: Courtesy Symphony San Jose.