The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-01-22
PUCC|N| LOOKING
TO WEST FOR THEME
Famous Composer of "Girl of
the Golden West" Wants
New Story.

There is n chance for some American
writer 10 furnish tho librotto for the
next grand opera. Of the world. In fact.
an American win in all probability gain
the preference.
Giacomo Puccini. the rormost opera
composer of the present day, who fur
nishcd 'IA Bollcmc.' LA Tosca." Mad :
am Butterfly" and finally '"Thc Girl OF
tho Golden West" which Will be heard
g. is soou To begin worl, on new opera,
Up 10 tho present writing no has not Tie
faintcst idea what Tho story Will bc. lie
Is looking, for a theme.
THE Girl of tho Golden West re-
qulrcd about three years OF work on the
part Of the famous Italian composer. He
IS rich and does not have 10 hurry In
his musical writings, The plots Of his
America bv PuC'ini. So great has been
the success or these two that lie natur-
ally favors America in selecting story
The news that Puccini feels in the
mood 10 soon begin work on another
opera was conveyed in 4 recent letter 10
ductor OF tho huge orchestra OF fifty
musicians that Henry ~. Savage sends
With his remarkable production on tour:
The Polaccos and Puccini are great
~ either Pucclnfs or Poiacco's villa,
both of which arc situated on Isco lake,
near Milan. 1t was really at the suE-
scstion of Puccini that Polacco consented
to come To this country and direct Mr.
SavaEc's orchestral corps.
During the engagement OF ''Tln Girl
Of tho Golden West" in San Francisco
last week. Nine Polacco received z lot
ter from Puccini, who wrote in part:
''T am writing To YOU as To reach
YOU in the land whore the scenes OF my
last opera are placed. How | would Ike
find Inspiration and material for an
Other work
You know that the stories. allcgorIes
world have bean thoroughly threshcd
over by composers Of opera in the past
We must look to new fields and new
peoples for our future work of interest
some interesting story or play while In
that wonderful country, and that could
use the same for my now work that
would like TO begin this summer
Keep sharp watch for such material
during your wonderful tour Of that Won
derful land. and either send IL to me or
bring IL back with you when you return
TO Italy this summer
agree that "7he Girl Of the Golden
West is hy far the greatest work that
pucGini has yet attempted. Thereiore.
all hands look forward eagerly to the
next opera that this wonderful composer
shall pen, II is possible for come one
right here in Salt Lake City to have a
story OF all lOea tnat VIII sway this
genius. OF music 10 immortalzc It. and to
give his mclodic soul free rein In working
out perhaps greater work even than
is The Girl OF the Golden West" The
story OF Belasco's great drama fairly In
to%lcated Pucclni, He has said that the
story gave him a. chance to write a Wig
orous opera Of n vigorous people FIe
was also attracted by reason OF the fact
that the play gave opportunity for q
happy ending So many OF our operas
OF the past have been constructed along
lines tnnt nccessitaJed q tragic ending
Of the hero or heroine. Puccini likes
happy opera and ln is yet overIovcd
with his work In putting to music the
great Belasco drama.