Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Three for One

Donald Macleod, in conversation with Sir Antonio Pappano, traces the developmental line of Puccini's meticulously crafted dramatic heroines, concluding with Il trittico.

Donald Macleod, in conversation with Sir Antonio Pappano concludes this series exploring Puccini's heroines with Il trittico, three one-act operas and three contrasting female leads, Il tabarro's Giorgetta, Suor Angelica and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, for whom he wrote one of the most beautiful, soaring melodies in opera, O mio babbino caro.

Manon Lescaut, Mim矛,Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Suor Angelica are women who capture our hearts and connect directly with our emotions. Recorded at the Royal Opera House, seated beneath several striking portraits of the composer, Tony dips into the scores to show how Puccini created these unforgettable characters and how with each one, he was seeking a perfect synthesis between music and action, constantly looking to push the boundaries of his musical language.

Born in 1858 in Lucca into a dynasty of musicians, Puccini was destined to be a church composer. That all changed when at age of 18, he walked to Pisa to see Verdi's Aida. It proved to be a formative experience. In that moment, he determined to become a man of the theatre, writing music exclusively for the stage. He went on to produce a dozen operas in fulfilment of that ambition - the last of them left incomplete at his death in 1924 - include La Boh猫me, Tosca and Madama Butterfly, still the cornerstones of any opera house's repertory.

The success of Puccini's trilogy of one-act operas, Il trittico at its New York premiere in 1918 ended a difficult decade for the composer. He'd started and abandoned several theatrical projects but now, finally, his hunger to embrace a new and modern musical language found expression in these three carefully balanced narratives: the darkly impressionistic Il tabarro follows Giorgetta and Luigi's illicit affair to a shocking conclusion, Puccini's own personal favourite, recounts a moment of truth and its tragic consequences for Suor Angelica and to round the evening off, greedy relatives are outwitted in the fast paced comic opera Gianni Schicchi.

臇 ben altro il mio sogno (Il tabarro)
Maria Guleghina, soprano, Giorgetta
Neil Shicoff, tenor, Luigi
Carlo Guelfi, baritone, Michele
Elena Zilio, mezzo soprano, la Frugola
Enrico Fissore, bass, Il Talpa
London Symphony Orchestra
Antonio Pappano, conductor

Il principe Gualtiero vostro padre.....Senza mamma, o bimbo, tu sei morte (Suor Angelica)
Cristina Gallardo-Domas, soprano, Suor Angelica
Bernadette Manca di Nissa, contralto, La zia principessa
Philharmonia Orchestra
Antonio Pappano, conductor

C'猫 una persona sola chi ci pu貌 consigliare.....O mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi)
Roberto Alagna, tenor, Rinuccio
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano, Lauretta
Jos茅 van Dam, baritone, Gianni Schicchi
Felicity Palmer, soprano, Zita
London Symphony Orchestra
Antonio Pappano, conductor.

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 25 Oct 2019 12:00

Music Played

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Il Tabarro - Opening theme

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI : CDS 5-56587-2.
    • EMI.
    • 1.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Il Tabarro - Opening theme (extract)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI CLASSICS : 556-587 2.
    • EMI CLASSICS.
    • 1.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Il Tabarro - O Michele, Michele

    Singer: Maria Guleghina. Singer: Carlo Guelfi. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI 5 56587-2.
    • EMI.
    • 2.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Il Tabarro (extract)

    Performer: Sir Antonio Pappano.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Il Tabarro - E ben altro mio sogno

    Singer: Maria Guleghina. Singer: Neil Shicoff. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI CLASSICS : 556-587 2.
    • EMI CLASSICS.
    • 9.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Il Tabarro - O Luigi Luigi

    Singer: Maria Guleghina. Singer: Neil Shicoff. Singer: Carlo Guelfi. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI CLASSICS : 556-587 2.
    • EMI CLASSICS.
    • 11.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Suor Angelica - opening Ave Maria

    Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI : 5 565-87 2.
    • EMI.
    • 1.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Suor Angelica (extract)

    Performer: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI : 5 565-87 2.
    • EMI.
    • 11.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Suor Angelica - Nel silenzio di quei raccoglimenti ..... senza mamma o bimbo,

    Singer: Cristina Gallardo鈥怐om芒s. Singer: Bernadette Manca di Nissa. Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI : 5 565-87 2.
    • EMI.
    • 11.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Gianni Schicchi - Povero Buoso!

    Singer: Felicity Palmer. Singer: Luigi Roni. Singer: Roberto Alagna. Singer: Elena Zilio. Singer: Roberto Scaltriti. Singer: Patrizia Ciofi. Singer: Paolo Barbacini. Singer: Carlos Chausson. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI : 5 565-87 2.
    • EMI.
    • 1.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Gianni Schicchi (extract)

    Performer: Sir Antonio Pappano.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Gianni Schicchi (extract)

    Singer: Jos茅 van Dam. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Singer: Roberto Alagna. Singer: Angela Gheorghiu. Singer: Paolo Barbacini. Singer: Felicity Palmer. Singer: Elena Zilio. Singer: Patrizia Ciofi. Singer: Luigi Roni. Singer: Roberto Scaltriti. Singer: Carlos Chausson.
    • EMI : 5 565-87 2.
    • EMI.
    • 5.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 20 Oct 2017 12:00
  • Fri 25 Oct 2019 12:00

91热爆 Opera Season

91热爆 Opera Season

On TV, radio and digital, in collaboration with the V&A and the Royal Opera House.

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time 鈥 why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.