Giacomo Puccini

Donna non vidi mai

Giacomo Puccini’s operas are largely through-composed. Only occasionally does the master of verismo slacken the pace to indulge himself with an aria. The undeniable highlights of his operas, these arias are often performed in concert. The Italian conductor Andreas Gies has arranged Puccini’s best-known arias and duets for reduced wind ensemble, enabling these to be performed in smaller settings. While the string section can also be reduced in size, a sufficient number of players is needed to perform the many divisi.

The aria “Donna non vidi mai” from Puccini’s Manon Lescaut is a deeply moving paean to love. Seeing the enchanting Manon Lescaut for the first time, the young nobleman Des Grieux falls head over heels. Confessing his love in an outpouring of emotion, this is a moving scene full of romance and passion.

For a balanced sound, we recommend a minimum string section of 6-5-4-4-2.