Giacomo Puccini,
22 December 1858 – 29 November 1924.
His operas are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire.
Puccini was "the greatest composer of Italian opera after Verdi". Whilst his early work was rooted in traditional late-19th century romantic Italian opera, he successfully developed his work in the 'realistic' verismo style, of which he became one of the leading exponents.
Att utesluta E Lucevan Le Stelle med någon av de tre Stora (här "1/3" Pavarotti) går bara inte:
E Lucevan le Stelle... e olezzava la terra.
Stridea l'uscio dell'orio...
E un passo sfiorava la rena...
Entrava ella, fragrante... mi cadea fra le braccia.
Oh, dolci baci, o languide carezza,
mentrio fremente...
le belle forme discioglicea dia veli!
Svani per sempre il sogno mio d'amore!
L'ora ? fuggita... e muoio disperato!
E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!...
(The great Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who ever expressed that he spoken Spanish with God, French with men, German with his horses, but Italian with women since though this beautiful language can express many subtleties of feeling and thought)
