Giacomo Puccini

Gianni Schicchi

Gianni Schicchi is a one-act comic opera by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924). The final and most popular opera in a trio known as Il trittico (The Triptych), each one dealing with the concealment of a death, the work premiered at the Metropolitan Opera on December 14, 1918. It tells the story of four family members anxiously discussing the contents of their very recently deceased family member, Buoso Donati, only to discover to their horror that he had left everything to a monastery. Gianni Schicchi, not related to the family, arrives and concocts a scheme to have a new will written as nobody but the family knows Buoso is dead. But when the notary arrives Schicchi, pretending to be a Buoso on the mend, dictates that his house, mule, and mills should be left to Gianni Schicchi, which allows him to offer marriage between his daughter Lauretta and Donati family member Rinuccio. Lauretta's soprano aria, O mio babbino caro (Oh, my dear papa), is among the most well known in opera and is frequently sung as an encore in recitals or concerts. Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).1.2.1: 2.2.1.0: Timp.Perc(3): Harp.Clst: Str (4-4-3-3-3 in set): Vocal soli (15 roles, SSSAATTBBBBBBBB). This orchestra reduction is completed by Ettore Panizza. Reprint edition. 11x14 oversized full score.