Giacomo Puccini

"Le Villi (The Willis or The Fairies) is an opera-ballet in two acts (originally one) to an Italian libretto by Ferdinando Fontana, based on the short story Les Willis by Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr. Karr's story was in turn based in the Central European legend of the Vila, also used in the ballet Giselle. The opera, in its original one-act version, was first performed at the Teatro Dal Verme, Milan, on 31 May 1884. Le Villi is Puccini's first stage...

'Turandot' from the Verone Arena : Franco Zeffirelli's legendary production of a Puccini Masterpiece. Internationally acclaimed Italian stage director Franco Zeffirelli delivers an opulent staging at the fairy-tale story of the Chinese Princess Turandot, who will only marry a prince capable of solving her riddles. Russian soprano Maria Guleghina proved a brilliant Turandot.

A concert of arias and popular songs that Andrea Bocelli with others gave in Pisa.

This series introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of the major operas, using the principal themes and arias taken from the Naxos recording of the complete work.

This series introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of the major operas. Using the principal themes and arias, taken from the Naxos recording of the complete work, Thomson Smillie is informative yet entertaining, enabling the listener to get more from this remarkable art form.

Tosca is set in Rome at the end of the 18th century. Love and jealousy drive the story to its inevitable, tragic end. Tosca, an actress, kills her tormentor, Scarpia, and rushes to save her lover, Mario. All goes awry and Mario is executed. Tosca, in an act of defiance, then throws herself from the roof of Castel Sant'Angelo to her death.