Giacomo Puccini

Vissi d’arte

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.

In "Vissi d'arte", Tosca is faced with a moral ordeal that threatens her life and her love. In this scene of the second act, she finds herself in a desperate situation, tormented by the intrigues, dangers and challenges of her life. The heartbreaking aria, which touchingly reveals the protagonist's inner turmoil and moral conflict, is full of emotional intensity and musical beauty.

For a balanced sound, we recommend a minimum string section of 5-4-3-2-1.