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As the Pikes Peak region readies itself to be conquered by the Opera Theatre of the Rockies' Pikes Peak Center Puccini Spectacular this coming May 6 and 7, it is interesting to look back at a time when the operas of this legendary Italian composer did indeed rule the hearts and minds of Europe and America.
And this was on the basis of only few "spectacular" offerings. 1893's Manon Lescaut paved the way, but it was the one-two punch of La Bohème (1896) and Tosca (1900) – both prominently featured in the May performance- that forever inscribed this man of such humble origins on the short list of musical immortals.
The flow of shimmering tears wrought from these works became a torrent after 1904's Madame Butterfly, and Puccini essentially spent the rest of his life riding the wave of love these had earned from the people- be they Kings or peasants.
One last world-changer was still to come from his pen. Turandot, the grandest of them all and the final stop on the May Spectacular, was written in the early 1920s while the great master faced the inevitability of his own tragic end. Unable to complete the final act of this beautiful, blood and guts fairytale set in ancient Peking before the curtain closed upon him, the public had to accept a well crafted conclusion from another composer.
But conductor Arturo Toscanini, who worshiped the great master above all others, had another plan for April 25, 1926's opening night. Unbeknownst to another soul, the great maestro dropped his baton at the exact spot in the opera where Puccini had to cease his labor and then turned to the audience.
"Here at this point," he said, "Giacomo Puccini broke off his work. Death on this occasion was stronger than art." Turandot remained unfinished upon its first performance.
Tickets for the Opera Theatre of the Rockies' Puccini Spectacular are available at Pikes Peak Center Box Office, all TicketsWest outlets; by calling 520-SHOW (7469) or 866- 464-2626 (toll free); or online at www.ticketswest.com.
