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Puccini Speaks (click on more info)

Archival video of Puccini's visit to New York City in 1910 to supervise the world premiere of his opera La fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West) at the Metropolitan Opera.

The audio is from the only known recording of Puccini's voice recorded on 21 February 1907, shortly before Puccini's departure from New York, where he was also supervising productions of several of his operas at the MET. The composers voice was preserved in this single-sided 78rpm recording entitled La voce di Puccini made by the Columbia Phonograph Company (matrix number 1420-1). Here is an English translation of the words spoken on that recording:

[Introduction by Gianni Viafora (not on the video):]

At 12:30 in the afternoon, from the little office of the Columbia Phonograph Company of New York, in the presence of Signora Elvira Puccini, Signora Gina Ciaparelli Viafora, as well as Mr. Emerson, President of Columbia, this is Gianni Viafora speaking now, on the eve of Maestro Giacomo Puccini's return to Italy, showered with glory and honors from audiences at the Metropolitan Opera House, where such great acclaim and enormous success has greeted his immortal operas. Here, today, more than 5,000 miles from Torre del Lago, where he finds so much poetic inspiration, Maestro Puccini will leave us a recording of his voice that will be listened to so ardently by many of his Italo-American friends and admireres and be a precious souvenir for generations. To you, sublime genius, worthy successor to the great composers who have represented Italy and make it the worlds leading exporter of the arts of music and singing, we wish you safe journey with a fervent salute from our [correcting himself:] your admirers here present.

[applause and shouts of: Long live Maestro Puccini! Hail!. .Hip, hip, hurray!]

[Giacomo Puccini speaks:]

My heartfelt thanks, dear Mr. Viafora, for all your kind words. I am really deeply grateful to the great public of New York for the very enthusiastic welcome they have given my operas.

I accept your wishes for a safe journey, and conclude by cheering: America Forever!

[Elvira Puccini speaks:]

I would like to say that the tributes accorded to my husband have made me very happy. I send a warm and sincere appreciation to everyone, especially the lovely American women, who were so very kind to us.

[acclamations]

Notes: Gianni Viafora was an Italian painter who imigrated to New York City. His wife, Gina Ciaparelli, was a soprano who appeared with the Metropolitan Opera between 1907 and 1910 in seven performances as Mimì in Puccini's La bohème.

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