Puccini’s style
Drama: Puccini saw himself above all as a ‘man of the theatre’. He researched the locations and background for his works scrupulously, created believable characters and situations, and supplied copious stage directions.
Politics: Unlike Verdi, Puccini was not interested in public duty, but his operas deal with political issues. Tosca takes place against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars; Madam Butterfly deals with questions about imperialism.
Contrasts: Puccini employed them brilliantly: think of La bohème’s alternating comic and sentimental episodes. In late works like Gianni Schicchi and Turandot, the ‘big tunes’ stand out from the more dissonant music, intensifying their impact.
Nostalgia: The tragic moments in Puccini’s operas are suffused with nostalgia for happier times, with memories often prompted by seemingly insignificant objects like Mimì’s bonnet. The composer intensifies the impact of such moments with a skilful use of recurring themes.