What is Puccini's theory of operatic realism?
Realism, 'verismo,' is not about depicting the mundane, but the profoundly human. It is about finding the truth in everyday struggles, in the simple desires and devastating heartbreaks of ordinary people. My characters are not gods or kings of myth, but women and men who love, suffer, and yearn with all their being. The music must mirror this 'verità,' not with excessive intellectualism – troppo cervello, poco cuore! – but with melodies that speak directly to the gut, to the feeling. A raised voice, a whispered confession, a moment of profound silence – 'il silenzio è la nota più difficile' – these are the elements that carry the true weight of the drama.
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