Umberto Boccioni: Portrait of Ferruccio Busoni, 1916

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Feruccio Dante Michelangelo Benvenuto Busoni is, I think, one of the greatest cosmopolitan composers in the history of music. His father was an Italian and his mother a German. Busoni studied in Austria, married a Russian-Swedish lady and went on to live in Berlin. Well, most of the time, as he also lived in Vienna, Zurich and Bologna. And, oh yes, he also had Jewish roots. Not to mention all of those first names!

© Kirilll Gerstein

It seems he had a book collection that could have rivaled most libraries: no wonder he knew his classics! Busoni was also a great connoisseur and admirer of Carlo Gozzi, and after composing the incidental music for Gozzi’s play Turandot, Busoni decided to turn the whole into an opera.

At the same time (1916), he also composed Arlecchino, an opera based on a character from the Commedia dell’ Arte. The (German-language) libretto with many spoken dialogues was written by the composer himself. Both operas, which Busoni called ‘La Nuova Commedia dell’ Arte’, had their world premiere on 11 May 1917 at Zurich’s Stadttheater, conducted by the composer himself.

In 1992, the operas were recorded in Berlin and they were now being marketed (for the first time?). Joseph Protschka is a warmly timbred Kalaf and Linda Plech excels as Turandot.  Gerd Albrecht conducts very involved, paying close attention to the score.

BONUS

Both opera’s were performed in Wexford in 1998

Turandot:

Arlecchino: