‘There’s something cinematic about Puccini. In a song or an aria of perhaps no more than two pages he can write a whole story. He knew how to go to the heart of it.’
Angela Gheorghiu might well be describing herself. On stage she has the presence of a movie star and cuts straight to the emotional chase. Strong men have gone weak at the knees at her Tosca confronting Baron Scarpia and Gheorghiu’s Butterfly must have done wonders for the sale of handkerchiefs.
Now, along with pianist Vincenzo Scalera, she has made a recording (for Signum) of Giacomo Puccini’s songs. ‘I feel I need to sing Puccini. I’ve been recording for 30 years now, so I thought for the centenary of Puccini’s death, and because I recognise that he is really suitable for my voice, I would sing all of his music, including the songs.’
Not all of the extant songs for, as Gheorghiu reminds me, the provenance of some are now challenged by the Puccini Foundation. The singer has selected 17 of them. ‘To tell the truth, I adore everything connected with the number
