REQUIEM IN THE WORKS OF GIACOMO PUCCINI

At first glance, the requiem genre is not at all representative of such a recognized master of musical theater as Giacomo Puccini is considered to be. The author of the operatic masterpieces that make up the golden core of the repertoire of the world stage, it would seem, is far from the cantata-oratorio sphere. Meanwhile, a closer look at his work reveals “plots” that force a different interpretation of the meaning of the requiem. A very prominent example of an appeal to the requiem is his creation of a requiem mass “In memory of Verdi.” However, there are less obvious examples in Puccini’s legacy, which nevertheless testify to the composer’s reinterpretation of the genre itself and even its adaptation to stage realities. What made Puccini resort to sacred motives? How did he interpret the genre, which has a centuries-old church history of development and an established structure? What is the artistic result of the touch of the opera genius to the requiem? And how did the requiem genre interact with the drama of the opera? This article provides answers to these questions.