Lives in Song

Following the disastrous premiere of Madama Butterfly in 1904, Giacomo Puccini faced a severe creative and personal crisis. Bruised by failure and an awful car accident, the great composer struggled to find his next operatic subject. Yet, what followed was an unprecedented era of transatlantic fame, technological innovation, and an ever-evolving musical landscape. From massive international tours...

What does it take to truly bring Giacomo Puccini’s most tragic and beautiful heroines to life on the modern stage? In this episode of Lives in Song , host Flora Willson sits down with internationally acclaimed operatic soprano Ermonela Jaho. Celebrated as one of the great verismo interpreters of our time, Jaho reveals the intense emotional and technical preparation required to sing roles like Mimì...

Giacomo Puccini is famous for his soaring melodies and heartbreaking arias, but his genius extended far beyond the vocal line. In this episode of Lives in Song , host Flora Willson sits down with Carlo Rizzi, world-renowned conductor and Artistic Director of Opera Rara, to explore Puccini's mastery of the orchestra. Maestro Rizzi takes us deep into the score, explaining the technical challenge...

In 1883, a young Giacomo Puccini entered a one-act opera competition in Milan. He lost. But that failure - his first opera, Le Willis - caught the attention of the powerful Ricordi publishing house, launching the career of the man who would become Italy’s greatest post-Verdi composer. In this episode of Lives in Song , host Flora Willson is joined by opera scholar Alexandra Wilson to uncover the f...

Giacomo Puccini was the fifth generation of a musical dynasty in Lucca, destined for a quiet life as a cathedral organist. But after his father died when Giacomo was just six years old, that lineage was disrupted - and the trajectory of Italian opera was changed forever. In this season premiere of Lives in Song , host Flora Willson is joined by opera scholar, Ditlev Rindom, to explore the formativ...

In the final episode of our season on Gaetano Donizetti, we trace the last chapter of the composer's life. Our Host Flora Willson and Opera Rara’s Repertory Consultant, Prof. Roger Parker, follow Donizetti from the vibrant salons of Paris to the prestigious musical world of Vienna, a move that would profoundly reshape his artistic style. This period of creative evolution, however, was tragical...

When Gaetano Donizetti arrived in Paris in the late 1830s, he entered the undisputed capital of the 19th-century opera world. Driven from Italy by personal tragedy and professional frustration, he launched a veritable invasion, writing simultaneously for the city's three main opera houses and dazzling high society with his incredible creative energy. In this episode, host Flora Willson is join...

In 1837, the death Gaetano Donizetti's beloved wife Virginia sent him into a profound crisis, prompting him to leave Italy for Paris. This tragic turning point also marked a new direction in his music, which became darker, more harmonically complex, and emotionally charged. In this episode, host Flora Willson is joined by opera scholar Roger Parker to investigate this pivotal period. We contra...

In the 1830s, Gaetano Donizetti was at the height of his powers. With his operas conquering stages across Italy, he set his sights on the ultimate prize: Paris. But beyond the grand spectacle of the opera house, Donizetti was also exploring a more intimate, personal, and commercially savvy world - the world of song. In this episode, host Flora Willson is joined by leading Donizetti scholar Profess...

Join us as we travel back to the early 19th century to explore the beginnings of Gaetano Donizetti's career. Forget the grand, dramatic operas for a moment. In this episode of Lives in Song, we focus on his lesser-known talent for songwriting and how a young composer found his voice in a world dominated by one man - Gioachino Rossini. With host Flora Willson and esteemed opera expert Roger Par...

He wrote over 70 operas, but what do we really know about Gaetano Donizetti? In this opening episode of 'Lives in Song' from Opera Rara , our host, opera historian Flora Willson is joined by esteemed opera scholar Roger Parker , as we delve into Donizetti's life and works, focusing on celebrated opera composer's lesser-known contributions to song. Together we dive into one of his m...