Puccini, Antipasti: A lecture-performance about Giacomo Puccini’s life and works

Last 18 October 18, the School of Humanities (SOH) of Ateneo de Manila University, together with Società Dante Alighieri-Comitato di Manila, hosted Puccini, Antipasti! A Lecture-Performance in Anticipation of the Centennial of Giacomo Puccini. The event was held at the Doreen Black Box Theater of Areté and was made possible by a generous donation from the Kwan Laurel Family.  In attendance were Ms Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, National Artist for Music, and also His Excellency Marco Clemente, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to the Republic of the Philippines. 

The lecture-performance was opened by Fr Roberto “Bobby” Yap, SJ, president of Ateneo de Manila University. Fr Yap described the event as “strengthening the divide [of culture] through music,” emphasizing that the audiences of the event, although diverse, were united by music. 

Ambassador Marco Clemente, besides expressing his fondness for Ateneo de Manila, noted that Puccini’s popularity—nine out of twelve of his works are held up as a high standard for opera and frequently performed today—was both a boon and a bane to him, and that although thought to be easy, his operas are very complex to perform: “Puccini deserves that [to be played and known more] because he is a complex composer.” He then added that Giacomo Puccini is a “great master of orchestration” and that he “knew how to choose the right plot.” 

The lecture proper was delivered by Rica Nepomuceno, from the University of the Philippines’ College of Music. Professor Nepomuceno has performed in concerts, operas, and theater productions. She received her music degree from UP then earned her graduate degree in voice at the Conservatory of Music “G B Martini” in Italy. 

Professor Nepomuceno gave a biographical overview. Born in Lucca, Italy on the 22nd of December 1858 to a family of local musicians who played the Church organ, Giacomo Puccini decided he did not want to follow in his family’s footsteps and play the organ. He studied in the Pacini School of Music and finished his education at the Milan Conservatory of Music. 

The lecture then surveyed all twelve of Puccini’s operas, from Le Villi to Turandot. Details surrounding this survey included the mentors that Puccini had, the musical movements he took on, the people who idolized him over the years (like Andrew Lloyd Webber). Interspersed throughout the lecture were video and audio clips and live performances of excerpts from Puccini’s works. For the latter, Nepomuceno was accompanied by Ms Luci Magalit, pianist and professor at the University of the Philippines College of Music.

After the lecture, select pieces from Puccini’s repertoire were performed by acclaimed artists Ms Camille Lopez Molina, Mr Ervin Lumauag, Nepomuceno herself, and members of the UP Voice and Music Theater Guild—Daniella Silab, Hannah Osorio, Larz Lazo, Audrey Sto Domingo, Missy Zavala, Christy Lagapa, Joseph Daniel Ramos, Nicholson Jaluag, Axl Rosas, Zid Yarcia, and Laurenzo Ardan. Lazo performed an aria and Yarcia joined in the quartet from La Boheme. Magalit was the pianist throughout.

Arias, a quartet, and a chorus, from Le Villi (1883), La Boheme (1896), Tosca (1900), Gianni Schicchi (1918), Madama Butterfly (1904), and Turandot (1924), were performed.  The selection showcased the composer’s range, from the light, hopeful, and romantic such as “Sole e amore” to dramatic showcases like “Vissi d’arte” from Tosca. 

Two students in the audience, Thea Vitug (3 BS Bio) and Tim Pe (3 BS Physics), mentioned that they were interested in watching the event because they were from the Ateneo Blue Symphony Orchestra. The event helped introduce them to Puccini and know more about his works; at the same time, they were able to gain a deeper appreciation of him as well. 

The lecture-performance was said to be the start of activities that will help raise awareness about  the composer, that is, an antipasto. According to Ambassador Clemente, having antipasti is not enough; audiences need to experience the fullness of Puccini’s works. He hopes that there will be more productions like this one held at Ateneo de Manila University.