The Puccini Problem

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The first detailed investigation of the reception and cultural contexts of Puccini’, s music, this book offers a fresh view of this historically important but frequently overlooked composer. Wilson’, s study explores the ways in which Puccini’, s music and persona were held up as both the antidote to and the embodiment of the decadence widely felt to be afflicting late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century Italy, a nation which although politically unified remained culturally divided. The book focuses upon two central, related questions which were debated throughout Puccini’, s career: his status as a national or international composer, and his status as a traditionalist or modernist. In addition, Wilson examines how Puccini’, s operas became caught up in a wide range of extra-musical controversies concerning such issues as gender and class. This book makes a major contribution to our understanding of both the history of opera and of the wider artistic and intellectual life of turn-of-the-century Italy.