Harmonies of the Heart: Exploring the Operatic World of Puccini

In 2024, the opera world remembers one of the most beloved composers, Giacomo Puccini, on the 100th Anniversary of his death.  It is also the 100th Anniversary of Turandot, his final opera.  

Few composers have inspired as deeply controversial reactions as Puccini.   For many, Puccini’s operas remain the most beloved and popular.  Many consider Turnadot to be the last great Italian opera from which comes the last great opera aria: Nessun Dorma.  For others, especially many music critics of his ear, Puccini was vehemently dismissed.

La Boheme is still the world's most performed opera. Puccini was the leading figure of what came to be known as Verismo opera at the end of the 19th into the early 20th  centuries.  His music has greatly influenced opera, musical theater, and film composers for over 100 years. 

The talk by music conductor and lecturer Dr. Robert Butts, will explore Puccini's life, relationship to other opera composers of his time, and his most popular operas such as La Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot.  Video excerpts from performances of his operas will be included.

Dr. Butts has lectured and taught at The Casperson School of Graduate Studies, Montclair  State University, and The College of Saint Elizabeth as well as for The New Jersey Council for the Humanities. He has presented talks and courses for community programs throughout New Jersey. As a  conductor, he has led the award-winning Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey for over 25 years and has  conducted The New Jersey Symphony, The Plainfield Symphony, Opera at Florham, New Jersey Concert Opera, Eastern Opera, and Opera Theater of Montclair. In addition, he has conducted orchestra  and opera performances in Russia, Romania, Germany, and Italy. His compositions have been performed in The United States, Europe, and Asia.  

This program is open to all and no registration is required.

It is made possible with the support of The Friends of the Livingston Public Library.