Puccini scrittore in prosa e in versi. Una lettura del primo libro dell’Epistolario di Giacomo Puccini

Abstract

Puccini loved to play with words on every scale, be it through poetry, macaronic texts, various forms of prose or newly coined words. Thanks to the publication of the first volume of his letters, it is now possible to analyse the various features of such writings, and while they may not be of the highest quality, they are not simple pastimes either. In short, they comprise the language of a world all his own, like the one he built in Torre del Lago. The article begins with a general overview of Puccini’s language, followed by a systematic analysis of his playful letters. Though such an endeavour may seem rather unscholarly, it is only by keeping the words closely tied to their context that we can capture the feelings and sentiments lurking behind his odd linguistic concoctions. In particular, it helps to bring to light the torments of a figure who was constantly seeking authenticity, one who loved the countryside and nature and thus found it difficult to adapt to what he considered to be the false and deceptive mores of city life.