
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
A detailed investigation of the reception and cultural contexts of Puccini's music, this book offers a fresh view of this historically important but frequently overlooked composer. Wilson's study explores the ways in which Puccini's music and persona were held up as both the antidote to and the embodiment of the decadence widely felt to be afflicting late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Italy, a nation which although politically unified remained culturally divided. The book focuses upon two central, related questions that were debated throughout Puccini's career: his status as a national or international composer, and his status as a traditionalist or modernist. In addition, Wilson examines how Puccini's operas became caught up in a wide range of extra-musical controversies concerning such issues as gender and class. This book makes a major contribution to our understanding of both the history of opera and of the wider artistic and intellectual life of turn-of-the-century Italy.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half-title
- Series-title
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- Note on translations
- Introduction
- 1 Inventing an Italian composer
- 2 La bohème: Organicism, progress and the press
- 3 Tosca: Truth and lies
- 4 A Frame without a canvas: Madama Butterfly and the superficial
- 5 Torrefranca versus Puccini
- 6 The Italian composer as internationalist
- 7 A Suitable ending?
- Epilogue
- Appendix 1: Selected newspapers and journals
- Appendix 2: Personalia
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index