An Opera Rara podcast exploring the lives of composers through their music. Hosted by Flora Willson, Lives in Song offers listeners a deeper understanding of the music and the people behind opera’s enduring works. www.opera-rara.com
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Donizetti Sets Eyes on Vienna – “Monseigneur le duc de Bretagne”
Season 1 · Episode 6
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 • Duration 42:05
In the final episode of our season on Gaetano Donizetti, we trace the last chapter of the composer's life. Our Host Flora Willson and Opera Rara’s Repertory Consultant, Prof. Roger Parker, follow Donizetti from the vibrant salons of Paris to the prestigious musical world of Vienna, a move that would profoundly reshape his artistic style. This period of creative evolution, however, was tragically cut short by a devastating illness that would lead to his final, painful years.
Together, we explore the powerful, complex, and surprisingly modern music Donizetti was composing in this late period, focusing on his 1843 masterpiece, La fiancée du timbalier – a dramatic and fragmented setting of a Victor Hugo poem.
To round off the season, we're joined by a special guest, Martin Cullingford, editor of Gramophone magazine, to discuss Donizetti's legacy and the journey of this podcast.
Opera Rara's unique mission is to bring forgotten works like these back to the stage and the studio. If you've enjoyed this journey into opera history, please visit our website to discover how you can support our work and help us share these stories with the world.
"It's extremely, extremely modern. You might almost say it's sort of protomodernist in some ways, that it's about fragmentation." - Prof. Roger Parker
Chapters:
00:00 Donizetti’s Final Chapter: From Paris to Vienna
04:22 A New European Sound: Donizetti's Viennese Style
07:11 The Preludio to Caterina Cornaro
09:41 A Sad Decline: Donizetti's Final Illness
13:25 Setting Victor Hugo: La fiancée du timbalier
17:15 The Drummer's Bride: La fiancée du timbalier Part 1
20:18 A Social Networker: How Donizetti Used Music as a Gift
23:19 Modern & Fragmented: La fiancée du timbalier Part 2
25:47 After the Curtain Falls: The Battle for Donizetti's Manuscripts
29:43 Special Guest Finale with Martin Cullingford (Gramophone)
33:48 Ask Opera Rara: What’s Next for Lives in Song?
Get Involved
REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE: Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.
DISCOVER: Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers: https://opera-rara.com/
Donizetti and French Culture – “Je ne me plaignis pas”
Season 1 · Episode 5
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 • Duration 42:22
When Gaetano Donizetti arrived in Paris in the late 1830s, he entered the undisputed capital of the 19th-century opera world. Driven from Italy by personal tragedy and professional frustration, he launched a veritable invasion, writing simultaneously for the city's three main opera houses and dazzling high society with his incredible creative energy.
In this episode, host Flora Willson is joined by opera scholar Professor Roger Parker to explore this remarkable chapter in Donizetti's life.
We discover how he adapted his style for the epic scale of French "grand opera" in works like Les Martyrs, and how he crafted a new, sophisticated voice in the intimate songs he wrote for the city's exclusive salons.
Along the way, we'll hear two stunning examples of his French songs and uncover a surprising secret: how a melody written for the salon found its way into one of his most beloved comic operas, La Fille du Régiment.
Opera Rara's mission is to unearth, restore, and record the forgotten gems of this period. To help us continue this vital work of musical discovery and share it with the world, please consider making a gift by visiting our support page at https://www.opera-rara.com/support.
"This sort of atmosphere is very common in the French songs of this, a man sort of delighting in the cruelty of the woman... which I think the Italians would have found slightly vulgar, actually." - Roger Parker
Chapters
00:00 - How Donizetti Conquered Paris
04:41 - Inside the 19th-Century Paris Opera Scene
09:07 - Deconstructing Donizetti's Grand Opera, Les Martyrs
15:28 - How French Salons Shaped Donizetti's Songs
Love, Death, and Paris - "Amore e morte"
Season 1 · Episode 4
Monday, September 22, 2025 • Duration 35:31
In 1837, the death Gaetano Donizetti's beloved wife Virginia sent him into a profound crisis, prompting him to leave Italy for Paris. This tragic turning point also marked a new direction in his music, which became darker, more harmonically complex, and emotionally charged.
In this episode, host Flora Willson is joined by opera scholar Roger Parker to investigate this pivotal period.
We contrast the extreme, gothic violence of his opera Maria de Rudenz with the subtle, melancholic beauty of his salon song, "Amore e morte" - Love and Death.
Along the way, we explore the 19th century's cultural "cult of death" and reveal the story behind the star tenor nicknamed "the tenor of the beautiful death."
It’s a fascinating look at how personal grief and cultural trends can shape great art.
Opera Rara is dedicated to uncovering the stories behind the music. If you enjoy these deep dives, please consider making a donation to help us continue our work. Learn more at opera-rara.com/support.
"The tenor... was known as il tenore della bella morte, the tenor of the beautiful death. So he specialised in death scenes... He did a good stagger, you know, and all those kind of things." - Prof. Roger Parker
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Donizetti's Grief and the Move to Paris
02:54 A Darker Sound: The Musical Impact of Tragedy
07:22 Melodrama & The Gothic: Inside Maria de Rudenz
09:31 From the Stage to the Salon: Donizetti's Songs
Donizetti’s Tribute to Bellini – “Lamento per Bellini”
Season 1 · Episode 3
Sunday, September 21, 2025 • Duration 38:37
In the 1830s, Gaetano Donizetti was at the height of his powers. With his operas conquering stages across Italy, he set his sights on the ultimate prize: Paris. But beyond the grand spectacle of the opera house, Donizetti was also exploring a more intimate, personal, and commercially savvy world - the world of song.
In this episode, host Flora Willson is joined by leading Donizetti scholar Professor Roger Parker to delve into this pivotal decade.
They uncover how the ambition to write for the Paris Opéra shaped works like L'assedio di Calais and led to a fascination with the "exotic."
You'll also hear the fascinating story behind Donizetti's Lamento per Bellini, a moving tribute where he deliberately imitates the musical style of his greatest rival. Finally, we listen to the flirtatious Neapolitan charm of La conocchia (The Spindle), a perfect example of how Donizetti's songs were becoming a popular commodity across Europe.
This series is part of Opera Rara's mission to unearth, restore, and record the lost and forgotten works of opera's greatest composers - a mission made possible by our loyal supporters.
"None of Donizetti's operas was ever finished. They were just abandoned, basically. And if he had an opportunity to come back, he would always rewrite things." - Prof. Roger Parker
Chapters
00:00 - Donizetti in the 1830s: The Peak of His Italian Career
03:25 - Aiming for Paris: The French Grand Opéra Influence in L'assedio di Calais
08:48 - From the Stage to the Salon: Donizetti's Songs Become a Commodity
Young Donizetti: Escaping Rossini’s Shadow – “D’un genio”
Season 1 · Episode 2
Saturday, September 20, 2025 • Duration 36:58
Join us as we travel back to the early 19th century to explore the beginnings of Gaetano Donizetti's career.
Forget the grand, dramatic operas for a moment.
In this episode of Lives in Song, we focus on his lesser-known talent for songwriting and how a young composer found his voice in a world dominated by one man - Gioachino Rossini.
With host Flora Willson and esteemed opera expert Roger Parker, we listen to one of Donizetti's early compositions, "D'un genio che m'accende," written when he was just 24.
It reveals a composer navigating the towering influence of Rossini, whose virtuosic and emotionally dazzling bel canto style was the global phenomenon of the day.
Through musical examples from both composers, we uncover the differences in the musical style of Donizetti vs Rossini, and how Donizetti used the more intimate form of song to experiment.
And we answer your questions, from how forgotten operas are chosen for revival, to the strange mystery of how so many of Donizetti’s songs ended up in an Austrian monastery.
This exploration of a young genius is a core part of Opera Rara's mission to unearth and share forgotten works - a mission powered by our supporters.
In this episode
The World of a Young Composer: A look at the musical landscape of the 1820s and the inescapable influence of Rossini.
A Song of His Own: An analysis of Donizetti's early song "D'un genio che m'accende" and what it reveals about his developing style.
Opera vs. Song: Comparing the virtuosic demands of opera with the intimate, experimental nature of song writing.
Ask Opera Rara: Answering questions about reviving obscure operas, the strange journey of Donizetti's manuscripts, and his lasting importance in music history.
Chapters
Donizetti’s Love and Loss – “Il sogno”
Season 1 · Episode 1
Friday, September 19, 2025 • Duration 30:58
He wrote over 70 operas, but what do we really know about Gaetano Donizetti?
In this opening episode of 'Lives in Song' from Opera Rara, our host, opera historian Flora Willson is joined by esteemed opera scholar Roger Parker, as we delve into Donizetti's life and works, focusing on celebrated opera composer's lesser-known contributions to song.
Together we dive into one of his most personal and mysterious works, 'Il sogno' ('The Dream'), and explore how the tragic death of Donizetti's wife, Virginia, may have inspired this intimate and deeply poignant piece of music.
Through excerpts of contrasting performances by Lawrence Brownlee, Nelly Miricioiu and Renée Fleming, we highlight the emotional range and depth of Donizetti's work, both for the opera house and the salon.
And we discuss how the composer's songs offer a different, more intimate glimpse into his artistry.
This inspiring exploration is part of our mission at Opera Rara to unearth and share these forgotten masterpieces - a mission only made possible by our dedicated supporters.
"I roused myself trembling from sleep. She still remained before me, and in the uncertain beams of the sun, I believed that I saw her again."
Chapters:
00:00 - Donizetti: More Than Just an Opera Composer
Puccini: The Making of a Maestro
Season 2 · Episode 1
Friday, November 28, 2025 • Duration 40:08
Giacomo Puccini was the fifth generation of a musical dynasty in Lucca, destined for a quiet life as a cathedral organist.
But after his father died when Giacomo was just six years old, that lineage was disrupted - and the trajectory of Italian opera was changed forever.
In this season premiere of Lives in Song, host Flora Willson is joined by opera scholar, Ditlev Rindom, to explore the formative years of the man who would bridge the 19th and 20th centuries and take opera into a bold, new age.
We examine the political upheaval of the Risorgimento, the towering influence of Verdi, and the Scapigliatura movement that brought a punk-like energy to Milan’s artistic scene.
Ditlev also introduces us to the upcoming Opera Rara recording of the 1921 version of La rondine, arguing that Puccini’s fear of repeating himself was evident from the very start.
If you love the history of opera and want to support the discovery of rare works, visit the Opera Rara website to learn more.
Puccini is "a composer who has absolute fear of repeating himself, but was always looking for a radically new topic." — Ditlev Rindom
01:53 Ditlev Rindom and the 1921 final version of La rondine
04:32 Puccini: The Composer Of Two Centuries
08:33 Early Years In Lucca
11:36 A New Country: Growing up in the Risorgimento
Puccini's Le Willis
Season 2 · Episode 2
Friday, January 30, 2026 • Duration 38:31
In 1883, a young Giacomo Puccini entered a one-act opera competition in Milan. He lost. But that failure - his first opera, Le Willis - caught the attention of the powerful Ricordi publishing house, launching the career of the man who would become Italy’s greatest post-Verdi composer.
In this episode of Lives in Song, host Flora Willson is joined by opera scholar Alexandra Wilson to uncover the fascinating origins of Le Willis. Together, they explore Puccini’s student days in Milan, his early symphonic ambitions, and the supernatural legend of the Willis - ghosts of jilted brides who dance men to death. Featuring extracts from Opera Rara’s complete recording, discover the energy of La Tregenda - the witches’ dance - and the melodic genius that signalled the arrival of a new operatic master.
To support Opera Rara’s mission to restore and record lost operatic masterpieces, please visit opera-rara.com/support.
"It's incredible to think that symphonic music, orchestral music, was new music as far as Puccini's generation were concerned. I mean, I don't think a Beethoven symphony was heard in Italy until Puccini's teenage years." - Alexandra Wilson
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Uncovering Puccini’s Debut Opera
04:15 Escaping to Milan: Bohemian Life and Musical Education
07:27 The Sonzogno Competition: Failure and Opportunity
11:11 Symphonic Ambitions: Listening to the opening of Le Willis
12:40 The Legend of the Willis: The Ghosts of Jilted Brides
17:39 La Tregenda: Analysing Puccini’s witches’ dance
26:05 The Premiere of Le Willis and Ricordi’s Intervention
Conducting Puccini with Carlo Rizzi
Season 2 · Episode 3
Friday, February 27, 2026 • Duration 42:07
Giacomo Puccini is famous for his soaring melodies and heartbreaking arias, but his genius extended far beyond the vocal line.
In this episode of Lives in Song, host Flora Willson sits down with Carlo Rizzi, world-renowned conductor and Artistic Director of Opera Rara, to explore Puccini's mastery of the orchestra.
Maestro Rizzi takes us deep into the score, explaining the technical challenges of conducting Puccini’s signature rubato and revealing why he believes the composer’s orchestration rivals that of Strauss or Wagner.
He also shares personal stories from his own life in music, including a vivid memory of the La Scala audience expressing their displeasure at a performance of Turandot.
We also get an inside look at two of Carlo’s major recent projects: his Symphonic Suites, which reimagine Tosca and Madama Butterfly without voices, and Opera Rara’s ground-breaking recording of the 1921 version of La Rondine—a version the composer fought for, but which has never been performed as he intended until now.
"When you shape a phrase of Puccini, it's completely different... You need more input from the conductor. Because, you know, Puccini is incredibly particular about what he wants. He's so detailed." — Carlo Rizzi
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to Lives in Song: Puccini
01:51 Recording the 1921 Version of La Rondine
05:07 Buying Scores at Age Nine
07:46 A Night at La Scala: A Turandot to Remember
10:47 Defending Puccini: The Genius of His Orchestration 1
4:24 From Student Work to Masterpiece: The Capriccio Sinfonico
17:14 The Conductor’s Craft: Shaping Puccini’s Rubato
Puccini’s Leading Ladies with Ermonela Jaho
Season 2 · Episode 4
Friday, March 27, 2026 • Duration 52:32
What does it take to truly bring Giacomo Puccini’s most tragic and beautiful heroines to life on the modern stage? In this episode of Lives in Song, host Flora Willson sits down with internationally acclaimed operatic soprano Ermonela Jaho. Celebrated as one of the great verismo interpreters of our time, Jaho reveals the intense emotional and technical preparation required to sing roles like Mimì (La bohème) and Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly).
Whether you're a lifelong opera devotee or entirely new to the operatic world, this conversation offers a rare, behind-the-curtain look at the discipline, vulnerability, and commitment that fuels a master performance. Jaho shares her deeply personal connections to these characters, describing how her own personal life experience shapes the music she creates.
If you'd like to dive deeper into the recordings discussed in this episode visit the Opera Rara website to uncover more forgotten masterpieces.
"The advice (for young performers) that I would say they have to trust themselves, not to be afraid to show their vulnerability, no one is perfect." – Ermonela Jaho
Chapters:
00:00 Who Were Puccini's Leading Ladies?
01:50 Ermonela Jaho: Honoured To Revive Forgotten Operas with Opera Rara
07:28 Stepping into Puccini's World: Jaho’s First Time Singing Mimì
12:18 Madama Butterfly: Emotion, Technique And The Power Of Pianissimo
29:38 Finding Your Voice: Jaho On Artistic Vulnerability And Idolising The Greats
39:52 Jaho The Master Performer: Connecting Personal Loss to Operatic Characters
43:47 Ask Opera Rara: Ermonela Jaho's Advice for Young Singers
45:11 Jaho’s Pre-Show Rituals: Skipping Ropes And Light Meals
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27:03 - From Opera to Salon: A Tale of Two Songs
32:15 - The Surprising International Market for Salon Music
35:05 - Ask Opera Rara: Rediscovering Lost Operas & Donizetti's Brother
Get Involved
REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE: Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.
DISCOVER: Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers: https://opera-rara.com/
21:19 A Glimmer of Light?: The Song's Surprising Finale
26:01 Ask Opera Rara: Berlioz, Song Titles & Cello Counterpoints
Get Involved
Review & Subscribe: Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.
Discover: Learn about Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas at opera-rara.com.
Support: Help us create more content like this by supporting our unique operatic vision at opera-rara.com/support.
10:55 - A Rival's Lament: Imitating Bellini's Style
15:01 - The Allure of the 'Other': Exoticism in Donizetti's Songs
17:05 - The Flirtatious Spindle: Deconstructing 'La conocchia'
22:20 - Domestic Security & A Thriving Social Network
24:46 - Ask Opera Rara: Your Questions Answered
28:33 - Why Was Italian Art Song Overlooked?
31:56 - New Discoveries in Don Pasquale
Get Involved
REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE: Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.
DISCOVER: Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers: https://opera-rara.com/
► REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.
► DISCOVER Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers
09:22 - 1837: A Year of Tragedy and Creative Turmoil
15:48 - Decoding 'Il sogno': A Song of Personal Grief?
23:01 - The 'Lucia di Lammermoor' Connection
27:14 - Rediscovering Donizetti's 200 Songs
Get Involved
► REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.
► DISCOVER Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers
Supporters Lives in Song is brought to you by Opera Rara and by the generosity of listeners like you. If you love discovery as much as we do, you can help us keep the music alive by making a donation at opera-rara.com/support.
Credits
Host: Flora Willson
Guest: Ditlev Rindom
Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg
Producer: Jason Caffrey
Audio Engineer: Phoebe Murdoch
Videographer: Robin Bharaj
Lives In Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. To find out more visit https://creativekin.co.uk/song
33:37 Ask Opera Rara: Essential Reading and Puccini’s Legacy
23:22 Puccini Without Words: Creating the Symphonic Suites
30:36 Reimagining the Score: Putting the Orchestra Centre Stage
34:43 Why Puccini Endures: Speaking to the Human Experience
36:59 Listener Q&A: Fulfilling Puccini’s Final Wish
GET INVOLVED
Thank you for listening. Lives in Song is a Creative Kin production for Opera Rara.
► REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.
► DISCOVER Opera Rara's mission to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers: Opera Rara
► SUPPORT a unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this: Support Us
Thank you for listening. Lives in Song is produced for a Creative Kin production for Opera Rara.
► REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.
► DISCOVER Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers: Opera Rara
► SUPPORT a unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this: Support Opera Rara
