Intermezzo
from Manon Lescaut, Act 2. Arrangement for Chamber orchestra (arr. A. Gies)
Giacomo Puccini’s operas are largely through-composed. Only occasionally does the master of verismo slacken the pace to indulge himself with an aria. The undeniable highlights of his operas, these arias are often performed in concert. The Italian conductor Andreas Gies has arranged Puccini’s best-known arias and duets for reduced wind ensemble, enabling these to be performed in smaller settings. While the string section can also be reduced in size, a sufficient number of players is needed to perform the many divisi.
The "Intermezzo" from Puccini’s opera Manon Lescaut takes the listener on a musical journey through the emotional worlds of the protagonists. This beautiful instrumental interlude conjures up the atmosphere of Manon and Des Grieux, capturing the mood and tension between the dramatic scenes of the opera. Far more than just a musical breather between the acts, it is an emotional climax that raises the story to a new level while creating a powerful instrumental effect.
For a balanced sound, we recommend a minimum string section of 5-4-3-3-2.
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Composer
Giacomo Puccini
| 1858-1924Giacomo Puccini came from a dynasty of church musicians who worked in the Tuscan city of Lucca. His Messa a 4 con orchestra, premiered there in 1880, seemed to point him toward a career in the same direction, but directly after this, he went to Milan Conservatoire with the aim of becoming an opera composer. His only independent orchestral works were written there as student works – the Preludio sinfonico (1882) and Capriccio sinfonico (1883), as well as some of his 16 complete surviving songs for voice and piano (Canti), which he composed, with frequent references to his operas, almost throughout his career. He achieved a breakthrough as an opera composer with Manon Lescaut (1893); between 1893 and 1904 he composed La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly, which remain his most frequently-performed works today. In recent years there has been a growing realisation that Puccini's entire output requires reappraisal. And so, he has increasingly come to be understood as a musician searching for a way forward into the modern age. Personal details
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Arranger
Andreas Gies
| 1993Andreas Gies, born in Italy to Italian and German parents, studied flute, piano, composition, singing, and conducting at conservatories in Castelfranco V., Venice, and Milan. He holds a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees and attended masterclasses with renowned conductors like M. Beltrami and D. Gatti. Gies has been assistant conductor at theaters such as La Fenice di Venezia and Regio di Torino. In 2019, he won the “Premio Nazionale delle Arti” and conducted the “La Verdi” orchestra of Milan. His conducting debut was in 2016 at the Mainfranken Theater Würzburg. He has conducted premieres and performances in Milan, Nice, Novara, and Sofia.
As a composer, Gies has won several competitions and his works have been performed by major orchestras in the USA and Italy. He also produces critical editions of lesser-known Italian operas, collaborating with musicologist C. Orselli. His compositions include pieces for chamber groups, orchestras, and chamber operas.
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