Giacomo Puccini

Tu che di gel sei cinta

Giacomo Puccini's operas are largely dramatically through-composed. Only in a few places does the master of verismo allow himself to linger longer in the form of an aria. These arias are highlights of his operas and are often performed in concert.
The Italian conductor Andreas Gies has arranged Puccini's best-known arias and duets for a reduced wind ensemble to enable them to be performed in smaller settings. The string section can be adapted, but should not be too small due to the many divisi.

"Tu che di gel sei cinta" is a tender yet powerful aria that reveals the emotional world of Liù in a touching way. This aria reveals the beauty and tragedy of her devotion and courage as she is prepared to sacrifice everything for her love for Calaf.

For a balanced sound, we recommend a minimum string section of 5-4-3-3-2.