In our Season 2 finale, host Flora Willson sits down with Puccini specialist and opera historian Dr Ditlev Rindom. Together, they pull back the curtain on the painstaking process of reconstructing the long-lost 1921 version of Giacomo Puccini’s La rondine.
Discover why Puccini continuously revised this masterpiece, transitioning it from a light Viennese operetta commission to a full-blooded tragedy. Plus, enjoy exclusive sneak previews of Opera Rara’s brand-new studio recording of the 1921 score, ahead of its world-wide release.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
From Operetta to Tragedy: The fascinating evolution of La rondine from its 1917 Monte Carlo premiere to Puccini’s final 1921 revision.
The New Ending: Why Puccini fundamentally altered Magda and Ruggero’s fate, creating a darker, more poignant resolution.
Musical Detective Work: The monumental challenge of reconstructing lost manuscripts and re-orchestrating missing sections with Martin Fitzpatrick.
Exclusive Previews: Hear unmastered clips featuring Ermonela Jaho, Juan Francisco Gatell, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Rizzi.
Featured in this episode...
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Ditlev Rindom
Guest
Listen and watch on…
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to Lives in Song: Discovering Puccini’s La rondine
01:51 From Viennese Operetta to Parisian Tragedy: The Genesis of La rondine
04:36 Exploring the 1917 Premiere and Puccini’s Growing Doubts
08:54 The 1921 Version: Why Did Puccini Rewrite the Ending?
14:46 Behind the Scenes: Building the 1921 Critical Edition
21:23 Lost Manuscripts and the Long Road to Reconstruction
31:33 The Inveterate Reviser: Puccini’s Pursuit of Theatrical Perfection
40:35 A Darker Turn: Magda’s Evolution and the Tragic Ending
47:46 Reassessing Giacomo Puccini: From Popular Hitmaker to Serious Innovator
52:09 Ask Opera Rara: Unpacking Puccini’s Devastating Heroines
SUPPORTERS
Lives in Song is brought to you by Opera Rara and supported by the generosity of listeners like you.
Opera Rara is all about uncovering and sharing the hidden gems of the operatic world, giving new life to music that deserves to be heard.
Your generosity helps us share rare operas and songs with audiences around the world.
CREDITS
Lives In Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk/song
Host: Flora Willson
Guest: Ditlev Rindom
Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg
Producer: Jason Caffrey
Audio Engineer: Phoebe Murdoch
Videographer: Robin Bharaj
