LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST: TEATRO DI SAN CARLO (VALCUHA)

With this Girl of the Golden West Dynamic begins a new collaboration with Teatro San Carlo of Naples. This is a new production by Hugo de Ana (who provided sets, costumes and direction), conducted by Juraj Valcuha, who was recently appointed Musical Director of the theatre. A great cast revolves around Emily Magee, the American star from New York City in the title role (Minnie). In this opera she is the only girl in a world of men. The three-act opera Girl of the Golden West by Giacomo Puccini with libretto by Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini is based on the play of the same name by American author David Belasco. While the work lacks some of the showstopping characteristics that some of Puccini's other operas have, the work has been admired since it's premiere for it's impressive orchestration and for a score that is more melodically integrated than is typical of his previous work. The opera premiered in 1910 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and Puccini deemed it one of his greatest works.