PUCCINI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1039, 31 January 1911, Page 8

PUCCINI.

MUSIC AND DUCK-SHOOTING. HOW HE COMPOSES. . A broad-shouldered, : ruddy-cheeked man of something over sis feet in height, with closely-cut hair and a stubby moustache, with an air that is pleasingly aggressive—sucli is Giaeomo Puccini, most popular of modern operatic composers. There is nothing in this athlete —it is impossible to believe that he. is more tlian forty—that suggests the musician, as the musician has t°o ofien appeared to the every-day Philistine. 11l short, he is in every one of his seventy-odd inches distinctly a man.- Such, at any rate, was the impression made upon a "New York Tribune" representative. ■"I suppose you wiint to know about my new opera,. 'Tho Girl of the Golden West-,'". were the composer's first words. "£ou know that I would really rather talk about duck shooting. It is my hobby in. Italy, and I should like to do some of it here. Tho open air, tho open country—that is what I love!"

A glance at tho athletic figure showed more strongly, than words what that -love, of the open- had meant for the composer; showed, too, why lie had chosen such an open. air. subject as . Belasco's "Girl" for his latest opera; showed how he had been-able to break the bonds of European prejudice ' and cross the ocean to give' the first performance of this opeFa in the' land whose spirit had given it birth.. ■ ■ "Yes, I have always admired America," said Signor Puccini. "And I admire intensely tho art of David Belasco. That is why tho last two. operas I have composed have both been taken from plays by him. I became interested in 'The Girl of tho'• Golden West' four years ago, while ; I was in New York attending, rehearsals of' 'Madama Butterfly.' I went to tho various theatres ! looking for a subject, and finally hit ■upon Girl.' At. this timo 1 had also in mind Pierre Louys's story, 'La Femnio et le Pontin,' but I finally gave up this for the Belasco play. "In tlio opera I have striven to obtain an atmosphere that is essentially Ameri-can,-and I hope that I have succeeded. I have inculcated in. the score a. fewbars, of Indian music, and also some of your ragtime, but otherwise] I have not attempted to use any essentially American themes. ■

"The opera in the main follows tho play, though there are a few changes, and. I think the music more dramatic than any I havo written. I have dedicated it to Queen Alexandra, .who so admired my '.Madam Butterfly.' "I hope, too, that in a short.whilo.it will be sung in English, as an excellent translation has been made. The whole spirit of modern opera' requires tho words to be understood as well 'as the music. No public can properly appreciate a work unless this is so. It is to .be hoped that in time America will have all its operas, sung. in. its.native, tongue. "I am' attending all tho New l'ork theatres in tho hope of finding, something new. for the story of an opera. You see, I have great confidence ' in America. 31y. new work.will bo a,light opera—llo blood or tears or murder. After ' tho nroduct-ion of 'The Girl of •thg"Golden\Yest' I shall reiurit.tS J.ta!y J to my country-place. at-Torre del Lago."' With these last words a bright light cair.o into his eyes. It was easy to see that .Torre del Lago'.incairtVmore to., him than all the opera houses in' the world. "And then the ducks," his caller hazarded. . ' -.. "And then the ducks," replied the composer. "Ducks in the daytime, and music in the night. I compose always in the evening. The absolute stillness is far more conducive-to thought than •is the .wliirl of the day. Every night from 10 o'clock, until .1 or 2 o'clock in the morning I sit afc my piano, with a huge, supply of coffee and cigarettes, a pencil and a pad of paper. Most com-, posers, I tliinkj .have worked in the evening—Verdi always, did so. And then my villa—anyone who lives there could not help but compose. "The. village near, the villa. is still called Torre del Lago because there was onco a .tower there, and there is still a lake. My villa I .have , built where tho tower stood. My garden.reaches to the, ilake, where in a little artificial harbour are moored my tliree boats. "The. maestro knows how to use -these same guns, too, for almost every day lie is^ away on the lake with a party' of friends cluck shooting, returning ; at night, all . tired, but not too tired for tho evening's work. "You know 'a. little weariness stirs the imagination," said Signor Puccini. ■ Then tho conversation switched to the present status of music in Italy.