An English translation, by William Ashbrook, has been announced. It is a rou-
tine biography but conveys interesting perceptions on the operas (genesis,
structure, vocal writing, revisions). Strong worklist, bibliography, index.- Greenfield, Howard. Puccini. New York: Putnam, 1980. 299p. ISBN 0-399-
12551-5. ML410 .P89 C73.
A popular life story, drawn mostly from the letters (about 200 of them newly
published) but without direct documentation. Includes comments on earlier
biographies, none of which appears satisfactory to Greenfield. Bibliography of
about 150 works. Index of names, theaters, and titles, partly expansive. - Marchetti, Leopoldo. Puccini nelle immagini. Milan: Garzanti, 1949. 205p.
No ISBN. ML88 .P9 M3.
A fine picture book, with photos of locations and performance materials, fac-
similes of letters, pages from autograph scores of the operas, a family tree, and
other images.
Operas in General
- Ashbrook, William. The Operas of Puccini. New York: Oxford U.P., 1968. xv,
269p. MT100 .P95 A8.
Program notes on all the operas, with footnotes and musical examples.
Sources are discussed. Bibliography of about 60 entries, index of names and
titles. - Osborne, Charles. The Complete Operas of Puccini.New York: Atheneum,
- 279p. ISBN 0-689-1184-3. ML410 .P89 O8.
Genesis, program notes, and synopses, with 72 musical examples and a name
index. Not without its odd opinions, such as “Toscais popular with audiences
not because of the quality of its music, but because its melodramatic plot is
tautly constructed and its three leading roles give their interpreters ample
opportunity to shine vocally.” - Greenwald, Helen M. “Dramatic Exposition and Musical Structure in Puc-
cini’s Operas.” Ph.D. diss., City U. of New York, 1991. xxviii, 340p. - Bögel, Hartweg. Studien zur Instrumentation in den Opern Giacomo Puccinis.
Tübingen: H. G. Vogler, 1978. 245p. No ISBN. MT100 .P79 B6.
A valuable examination of Puccini’s orchestration, considering many technical
aspects. The means of achieving local color and atmosphere are well described.
Sketches are checked for instrumental indications. Music examples, facsimiles,
bibliography. - Anders, Michael F. Musical and Dramatic Structure in the Finales of the
Operas of Giacomo Puccini.” Ph.D. diss., Ohio State U., 1997. xii, 232p. - Celletti, Rodolfo. “Vocalità dell’opera pucciniana.” In Critica pucciniana,35–
51 (Lucca: Comitato Nazionale per le Onoranze a Giacomo Puccini nel
Cinquantanerario della Morte, 1976; ML 410 .P89 C934).
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