PUCCINI GIACOMO: (1858-1924) Puccini´ s first thought on Turandot "I have an idea to do a project work related to ...

PUCCINI GIACOMO: (1858-1924) Puccini´ s first thought on Turandot "I have an idea to do a project work related to China".

PUCCINI GIACOMO: (1858-1924) Italian Composer. A very interesting content A.L.S., `G. Puccini´, two pages, 4to, on his personal printed stationery, bearing the printed heading ''Torre del Lago - Toscana'', 28th November 1919, to Sybyl Seligman, in Italian. A boldly black ink autograph letter by Puccini, referring to automobiles first and further expressing his feelings, and announcing his new opera project, related to China, the one that would be his last and unfinished opera Turandot. Puccini starts explaining that he was absent, hunting, and that he has only now received her telegramme, stating in part `Cara Sybil, fui assento.. a caccia - qui trovo vostro telegr. Non posso consigliarvi l´automobile come il mio perché la carrozzeria e una vera porcheria - Internamente e bella ma la vernice di fuori si staca tutta - in somma non e consigliabile. ...´ (Translation: "Dear Sybyl, I was away... I was hunting - I find here your telegramme. I cannot recommend to you a car like mine because the bodywork is a real piece of junk - Inside it is beautiful but the paint on the outside is all peeling off - in short, it is not advisable...") Puccini further refers to the horrible weather, saying `E il tempo? Qui orribile da piu d´un mese salvo qualche oasi di sole ma raramente´ (Translation: ''And the weather? It's been horrible here for over a month except for a few oases of sunshine but rarely...'') Further again, Puccini refers to his new idea about an opera based in China and seeks for his correspondent´s opinion, stating `Ho idea di fare un progetto chinese. Che me dite? Datemi notizie della mia bella Londra!.. il mio miglior periodo del dopo guerra...´ (Translation: ''I have an idea to do a project work related to China. What do you say? Tell me about my beautiful London!.. my best post-war period...…'') Before concluding Puccini refers to the huge increase of prices and wonders what will happen in future, concluding with a statement `Che mondo cambiato!´ (Translation: "The world has changed!") After having premiered Il Trittico almost a year earlier, in December 1918, Puccini started his longest empty composing period until his posthumous and unfinished opera Turandot which would be premiered after his death and which first seeds appear in this letter as an idea, a future project. G to VG

Sybyl Seligman (1868-1936) a close friend to Puccini with whom he began a romance that became a friendship for the rest of his life.