Letters Of A Great Composer

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1938, Page 12 (Supplement)

Letters Of A Great Composer

Books In Review

\TO fe er than nine books have f " now keen written about the i e and works of Giacomo Puccini. The latest, "Puccini Among Friends (Macmillan), is described by its author, Mr. Vincent Sehgman, as being neither a formal biography nor a cntical appreciation of his work, but rather the portrait, largely selfdrawn, of a very lovely character, and the record of a singularly beautiful friendship." I'liis friendship was one that existed between till' Italian c. >in p.-er ami Sybil Noli'_'nia n. the author's mother. a very fill '"'l'll u 'Una n of line cha i actor, ti> "hum Puccini had writ ten mi mo 700 htter,; during the |a<t 'Jo \ ears' (if his I ' l '*• 'I'll" elm r.iel eristic in it o (if those letters, about ."Itid of wliicli form tlio ''•'-is fit this memoir, "humorous despair. I hoy lire most interestin«j, in that, they reveal not only tlie methods of the musician, Imt. also the character of the man. and Mr. Seligman has edited 11 ion i with sy in pa t hot io understanding x ml in a very en tort a in imr stvlo. In "Puccini amoiiir Friends" is unfolded the story of the young Tuscan organist who was destined to become the composer of a number of the most popular opei as of modern times. Commencing with Puccini's earliest works, "Le Villi" (INSt) and "Kdgar" (1889), Mr. Solig- |

• man gives the story of how each upon ■ came to bo written. "Million T.osoaut (INO.i) was the first real success. J'lii was followed liv "La Hoheme" ( LS'.Ki and La I osca 1 (1900). Strange to sav tho proiniore of "Madame Huttertlv" was a fiasco when u'ncn at La S.-ala on Nobiliary 17. 1 !MM. To-day. it i* said to ho tho most popular opera in tho world. I lion canio "La Kanoiiilla do] West" (1010). "La Itondine" (lit 17 i and "II 'Irittoo'' (1010). "Tiirandot." his filial work, was left unfinished at his •loath on November 20. 1!»'24. The last ' pa.iros were oomph-tod from Puccini'* notes, and tho opera was presented in lit'iti under Toscanini's supervision. Many of the letters deal with his difliinitios in procuring a suitable libretto, others with his difference* with the house of Hieordi. his publishers. Some speak • >f dillerenees with Tosoanini. who conducted most of his operas. Mention is made of the domestic tragedy that darkened tho later years of his life, a t rnuedy in which lie was one of the innocent victims. Tn those days of international distrust it is pleasing to note that Puccini had a great admiration for certain qualities—such as "poise"—which lie discerned in England and the English

nation -mi attribute, so alien to the Latin temperament. which lie admired and envied all tile more because lie found his lellow-coiintryinen — and liimselt —lacking it. Among l'neeini's greatest friends were lusti and Caruso, and interest in g sidelights are thrown upon these two in tlie book. Karlv in the eighties 'I'osti bad been appointed teacher of singing to the Hoval Family, a fact which doiilitless explains why later he was knighted, for I'osti. although lie lived the greater part ol his life in England, obstinately refused to give np his Italian nationality. With no lesi* obstinacy. for I bat matter, he had refused to learn Knglish. and after -10 years in London could prondlv boast that his vocabulary was smaller than the nnniber of years of bis residence! That an Italian who wrote sickly, sentimental, drawing room ballads, who could not speak Knulish— and was proud of it— should receive the honour of a knighthood, is a serious reflection upon the musical and other tastes of the Victorian era. Caruso, it appears, in his later years was prone to buffoonery on the stage, upsetting his fellow artists, while his habit of taking liberties with the retire was very annoying to (lie composer.