The New York City Opera opens with La fanciulla del West.
by Paul J. Pelkonen
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| A rootin'-tootin' romance: Jonathan Burton and Kristin Sampson in La fanciulla del West. Photo by Sara Shatz courtesy New York City Opera. |
Of the mature operas by Giacomo Puccini, La fanciulla del West (English title The Girl of the Golden West) is unique. It was his first (and only) opera written for the American stage, premiering at the Metropolitan Opera in 1910 with Enrico Caruso in the tenor part and the composer in attendance. Based on a play by David Belasco, (he also provided Puccini with source material for Madama Butterfly) its ending preaches tolerance over tragedy. The final curtain descends on an ambiguous but generally happy note as the hero and heroine ride off into a new future. It was an inspired choice to open the second full season of the resuscitated New York City Opera.
