Lives in Song

Opera Rara
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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

Episodes

  1. Puccini's Le Willis

    JAN 30

    Puccini's Le Willis

    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  33:37 Ask Opera Rara: Essential Reading and Puccini’s Legacy Get Involved InstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSkyYouTube SUPPORTERS Lives in Song is brought to you by Opera Rara and supported by the generosity of listeners like you. Opera Rara is all about uncovering and sharing the hidden gems of the operatic world, giving new life to music that deserves to be heard. Your generosity helps us share rare operas and songs with audiences around the world. CREDITS Lives In Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk/song Host: Flora WillsonGuest: Alexandra WilsonExecutive Producer: Zachary VanderburgProducer: Jason CaffreyAudio Engineer: Phoebe MurdochVideographer: Robin Bharaj

    39 min
  2. Puccini: The Making of a Maestro

    11/28/2025

    Puccini: The Making of a Maestro

    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 Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Puccini’s World 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 14:49 Listening to Verdi: Simon Boccanegra 17:09 The Crisis in Italian Opera 21:07 Arrigo Boito & The Scapigliatura Movement 32:42 Ask Opera Rara: Underrated Composers & La rondine 37:24 Conclusion Get Involved InstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSkyYouTube 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 WillsonGuest: Ditlev RindomExecutive Producer: Zachary VanderburgProducer: Jason CaffreyAudio Engineer: Phoebe MurdochVideographer: Robin Bharaj Lives In Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. To find out more visit https://creativekin.co.uk/song

    40 min
  3. Donizetti Sets Eyes on Vienna – “Monseigneur le duc de Bretagne”

    09/24/2025

    Donizetti Sets Eyes on Vienna – “Monseigneur le duc de Bretagne”

    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/ SUPPORT: A unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this: https://www.opera-rara.com/support EXPLORE: The full Opera Rara catalogue: https://opera-rara.com/shopcatalogue FOLLOW Opera Rara: YouTubeInstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSky Supporters This season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support of Andrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate. The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation.  Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners. For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support. Credits Lives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. Output Editor: Jason Caffrey Producer: Milly March Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg

    42 min
  4. Donizetti and French Culture – “Je ne me plaignis pas”

    09/23/2025

    Donizetti and French Culture – “Je ne me plaignis pas”

    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 20:11 - "I Didn't Complain": A Salon Lament with a Secret 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/ SUPPORT: A unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this: https://www.opera-rara.com/support EXPLORE: The full Opera Rara catalogue: https://opera-rara.com/shopcatalogue FOLLOW Opera Rara: YouTubeInstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSky Supporters This season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support of Andrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate. The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation.  Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners. For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support. Credits Lives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. Output Editor: Jason Caffrey Producer: Milly March Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg

    42 min
  5. Love, Death, and Paris - "Amore e morte"

    09/22/2025

    Love, Death, and Paris - "Amore e morte"

    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 12:01 "Amore e morte": A Song of Love and Death 14:48 Romanticism 101: Unpacking "Love and Death" 17:41 The 19th-Century's Beautiful Death 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. Explore: The full Opera Rara catalogue is available at opera-rara.com/shopcatalogue. Follow Opera Rara: YouTubeInstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSky Supporters This season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support of Andrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate. The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation.  Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners. For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support. Credits Lives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. Output Editor: Jason Caffrey Producer: Milly March Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg

    36 min
  6. Donizetti’s Tribute to Bellini – “Lamento per Bellini”

    09/21/2025

    Donizetti’s Tribute to Bellini – “Lamento per Bellini”

    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 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/ SUPPORT: A unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this: https://www.opera-rara.com/support EXPLORE: The full Opera Rara catalogue: https://opera-rara.com/shopcatalogue FOLLOW Opera Rara: YouTubeInstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSky Supporters This season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support of Andrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate. The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation.  Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners. For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support. Credits Lives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. Output Editor: Jason Caffrey Producer: Milly March Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg

    39 min
  7. Young Donizetti: Escaping Rossini’s Shadow – “D’un genio”

    09/20/2025

    Young Donizetti: Escaping Rossini’s Shadow – “D’un genio”

    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 episodeThe 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. Dive into the early years of a master composer and hear the first sparks of a genius who would go on to change the face of opera forever. Chapters00:00 - Introduction: Exploring Young Donizetti 02:22 - Musical Interlude 1: "D'un genio che m'accende" (Opening) 04:02 - The Shadow of a Giant: The Dominance of Rossini 06:28 - Musical Interlude 2: Rossini's "Bel raggio lusinghier" from Semiramide 11:03 - Finding His Voice: Donizetti's Songs as an Escape from Rossini 13:58 - Musical Interlude 3: Donizetti in "Rossini Mode" - L'esule di Roma 18:48 - A Deeper Look: The Story Behind "D'un genio che m'accende" 22:58 - Musical Interlude 4: "D'un genio che m'accende" (Full Performance) 25:21 - Ask Opera Rara: Listener Q&A 33:04 - Conclusion 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 ► SUPPORT a unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this: ► EXPLORE the full Opera Rara catalogue ► FOLLOW OPERA RARA: YouTubeInstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSky Supporters This season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support of Andrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate. The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation.  Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners. For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support. Credits Lives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. Output Editor: Jason Caffrey Producer: Milly March Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg

    37 min
  8. Donizetti’s Love and Loss – “Il sogno”

    09/19/2025

    Donizetti’s Love and Loss – “Il sogno”

    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 04:15 - From Grand Opera to Intimate Songs 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 ► SUPPORT a unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this: ► EXPLORE the full Opera Rara catalogue ► FOLLOW OPERA RARA: YouTubeInstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSky Supporters This season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support of Andrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate. The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation.  Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners. For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support. Credits Lives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin. Output Editor: Jason Caffrey Producer: Milly March Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg

    31 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Opera Rara
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Lives in Song