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A Brief History of Opera
Verismo
Time period: Late 1800s - early 1900s
Major Composers: Pietro Mascagni, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Giacomo Puccini
Background:
"Verismo" means "realism" in Italian, and this realism was often portrayed in opera through central themes of passion or violence, or through sensational depictions of daily life. The composers and playwrights of this time were particularly interested in subjects that reflected the day-to-day life and struggles of ordinary people, local customs, and regional language and idioms. Examples of verismo operas are Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.
Giacomo Puccini is one of the composers associated with the verismo period. Born into a family of church musicians, Puccini was expected to follow in his father's footsteps. However, after attending a performance of Verdi's Aida he made the decision to compose opera, a choice that not only altered the course of the composer's life, but also dramatically altered the landscape of opera. Puccini took time between operas, refining the previous one and selecting the topic of the next. His operas are known for their musical accessibility and dramatic stories. Madama Butterfly, La bohème, Turandot, and Tosca are among the most frequently performed operas today.
Musical Sample: "Humming Chorus," from Puccini's Madama Butterfly
Listen to "Humming Chorus" from Puccini's Madama Butterfly, featuring the Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus with Donald Nally, Chorus Master, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Maurizio Barbacini. Excerpt courtesy of Opera Company of Philadelphia.
 Opera America Sample: "Humming Chorus"
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Pittsburgh Opera's 2001 production of Puccini's Turandot. Photo by Suellen Fitzsimmons. |
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Pittsburgh Opera's 2003 production of Puccini's La bohème. Photo by Suellen Fitzsimmons. |
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