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BR Klassik

Puccini: Making the world cry (Die Welt zum Weinen bringen)

$39.99

Details

Composer
Giacomo Puccini, Jorg Handstein
Artist
Munich Radio Orchestra, Max Simonischek, Udo Wachtveitl
Format
CD
Label
BR Klassik
Released
Feb 20, 2026
Catalog #
BRK900939
UPC
4035719009392

About

Puccini's music touches the hearts of millions. But how well do we really know the man, his work, and his era? What was his life like? What shaped his genius? This new audio biography from BR-KLASSIK - vividly and captivatingly narrated by Udo Wachtveitl and accompanied by lush music - offers the answers. When Mimì utters her last words, Tosca throws herself on her dead lover, or Cio Cio San takes her child in her arms once more, opera audiences worldwide reach for tissues. This was Puccini's goal: far piangere - "to make people cry." His success in this brought him immense fame and fortune, but how did he craft such enduring art? This audio biography reveals the perfectionist behind the works, a man who spent years refining his operas to make them feel as if they were part of real life. Puccini's personal life is often reduced to his notorious passions for women, cars, and hunting, along with the tragedy surrounding the suicide of his maid, Doria Manfredi. He was undoubtedly a "macho" through and through, but as he confided to his soulmate Sybil Seligman, "not even my friends know who I really am." In this audio biography, with it's many quotations, Puccini shares numerous aspects of his story himself, often surprising listeners with his humour, self-deprecation, and critical reflection (though his behaviour remained unchanged). We hear of his affairs, miseries, joys, and struggles. We accompany him on his bicycle, aboard an ocean liner, duck hunting, in family disputes, and in moments of triumph in New York. And we witness his country - Italy, tragically torn by crisis and eventually sliding into war and fascism. The main focus, however, is his music, and not just his famous arias and operas. From the church music of his student days to experimental stage works like La Fanciulla del West and Il Trittico, this audio biography charts the remarkable development of his career and uncovers many musical gems.

Tracklist 64 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Große Hoffnungen 04:53
    Track
    1
    Title
    Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Große Hoffnungen
    Duration
    04:53
  3. 2 Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Zwischen Kirche und Oper 06:50
    Track
    2
    Title
    Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Zwischen Kirche und Oper
    Duration
    06:50
  4. 3 Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Ein armer Student 04:54
    Track
    3
    Title
    Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Ein armer Student
    Duration
    04:54
  5. 4 Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Capriccio sinfonico 03:36
    Track
    4
    Title
    Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Capriccio sinfonico
    Duration
    03:36
  6. 5 Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Die erste Oper: Le Villi 05:06
    Track
    5
    Title
    Chapter 1: Schreibe für das Theater! (1858-1884): Die erste Oper: Le Villi
    Duration
    05:06
  7. 6 Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Ricordi macht's möglich 05:32
    Track
    6
    Title
    Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Ricordi macht's möglich
    Duration
    05:32
  8. 7 Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Prekäre Verhältnisse 05:33
    Track
    7
    Title
    Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Prekäre Verhältnisse
    Duration
    05:33
  9. 8 Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Dieser verdammte Edgar 05:33
    Track
    8
    Title
    Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Dieser verdammte Edgar
    Duration
    05:33
  10. 9 Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Höher hinaus 02:50
    Track
    9
    Title
    Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Höher hinaus
    Duration
    02:50
  11. 10 Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Genau sein Typ: Manon Lescaut 05:11
    Track
    10
    Title
    Chapter 2: Die Gewalt der Leidenschaft (1884-1889): Genau sein Typ: Manon Lescaut
    Duration
    05:11
  12. 11 Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Im Schlamassel 05:26
    Track
    11
    Title
    Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Im Schlamassel
    Duration
    05:26
  13. 12 Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Verismo - das wahre Leben 04:58
    Track
    12
    Title
    Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Verismo - das wahre Leben
    Duration
    04:58
  14. 13 Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Tod in Überse 04:30
    Track
    13
    Title
    Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Tod in Überse
    Duration
    04:30
  15. 14 Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Endlich Erfolg 03:58
    Track
    14
    Title
    Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Endlich Erfolg
    Duration
    03:58
  16. 15 Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Neue Pläne 05:22
    Track
    15
    Title
    Chapter 3: Der Erbe Verdis (1890-1894): Neue Pläne
    Duration
    05:22
  17. Disc 2
  18. 1 Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Leben in der Bohème 05:43
    Track
    1
    Title
    Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Leben in der Bohème
    Duration
    05:43
  19. 2 Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Männerspielzeug 04:32
    Track
    2
    Title
    Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Männerspielzeug
    Duration
    04:32
  20. 3 Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Giacomo weint 04:37
    Track
    3
    Title
    Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Giacomo weint
    Duration
    04:37
  21. 4 Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Folterkammermusik: Tosca 06:05
    Track
    4
    Title
    Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Folterkammermusik: Tosca
    Duration
    06:05
  22. 5 Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Dramatische Ereignisse 04:58
    Track
    5
    Title
    Chapter 4: Nun wollen wir grausam sein! (1894-1900): Dramatische Ereignisse
    Duration
    04:58
  23. 6 Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Puccinis Paradiese 05:23
    Track
    6
    Title
    Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Puccinis Paradiese
    Duration
    05:23
  24. 7 Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Eine japanische Tragödie: Madama Butterfly 04:57
    Track
    7
    Title
    Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Eine japanische Tragödie: Madama Butterfly
    Duration
    04:57
  25. 8 Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Familiäre Spannungen 05:42
    Track
    8
    Title
    Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Familiäre Spannungen
    Duration
    05:42
  26. 9 Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Autounfall 04:42
    Track
    9
    Title
    Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Autounfall
    Duration
    04:42
  27. 10 Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Ein Paar in lachender Liebe 04:00
    Track
    10
    Title
    Chapter 5: Kleine Ausflüge (1900-1904): Ein Paar in lachender Liebe
    Duration
    04:00
  28. 11 Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): Fiasko und vollkommener Triumph 04:36
    Track
    11
    Title
    Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): Fiasko und vollkommener Triumph
    Duration
    04:36
  29. 12 Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): Seelenfreundin 05:18
    Track
    12
    Title
    Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): Seelenfreundin
    Duration
    05:18
  30. 13 Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): Modernisierung 03:48
    Track
    13
    Title
    Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): Modernisierung
    Duration
    03:48
  31. 14 Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): The Girl of the Golden West 06:57
    Track
    14
    Title
    Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): The Girl of the Golden West
    Duration
    06:57
  32. 15 Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): Der Fall Doria Manfredi 03:29
    Track
    15
    Title
    Chapter 6: America forever! (1904-1909): Der Fall Doria Manfredi
    Duration
    03:29
  33. Disc 3
  34. 1 Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Tod in Torre del Lago 05:05
    Track
    1
    Title
    Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Tod in Torre del Lago
    Duration
    05:05
  35. 2 Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Premiere in New York 06:52
    Track
    2
    Title
    Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Premiere in New York
    Duration
    06:52
  36. 3 Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Eine Geliebte aus München 03:42
    Track
    3
    Title
    Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Eine Geliebte aus München
    Duration
    03:42
  37. 4 Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Libretto verzweifelt gesucht 04:01
    Track
    4
    Title
    Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Libretto verzweifelt gesucht
    Duration
    04:01
  38. 5 Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Ein Verbrecherstück: Il Tabarro 04:32
    Track
    5
    Title
    Chapter 7: Schlechte Zeiten, gute Zeiten (1909-1913): Ein Verbrecherstück: Il Tabarro
    Duration
    04:32
  39. 6 Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Ein helles Traumland: La Rondine 04:43
    Track
    6
    Title
    Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Ein helles Traumland: La Rondine
    Duration
    04:43
  40. 7 Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Ein grausiger Alptraum - der Weltkrieg 05:27
    Track
    7
    Title
    Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Ein grausiger Alptraum - der Weltkrieg
    Duration
    05:27
  41. 8 Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Beschädigte Leben: Il Tabarro 03:35
    Track
    8
    Title
    Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Beschädigte Leben: Il Tabarro
    Duration
    03:35
  42. 9 Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Tragödie im Kloster: Suor Angelica 04:01
    Track
    9
    Title
    Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Tragödie im Kloster: Suor Angelica
    Duration
    04:01
  43. 10 Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Abgründige Komödie: Gianni Schicchi 06:22
    Track
    10
    Title
    Chapter 8: Die Liebe in den Zeiten des Krieges (1913-1919): Abgründige Komödie: Gianni Schicchi
    Duration
    06:22
  44. 11 Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Politische Kämpfe 03:11
    Track
    11
    Title
    Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Politische Kämpfe
    Duration
    03:11
  45. 12 Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Die eiskalte Prinzessin: Turandot 06:50
    Track
    12
    Title
    Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Die eiskalte Prinzessin: Turandot
    Duration
    06:50
  46. 13 Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Mussolini 06:19
    Track
    13
    Title
    Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Mussolini
    Duration
    06:19
  47. 14 Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Zukunftsmusik 03:19
    Track
    14
    Title
    Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Zukunftsmusik
    Duration
    03:19
  48. 15 Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Strahlentherapie 05:19
    Track
    15
    Title
    Chapter 9: Das vertrackte Finale (1919-1924): Strahlentherapie
    Duration
    05:19
  49. Disc 4
  50. 1 Le Villi, Act II: La tregenda 03:39
    Track
    1
    Title
    Le Villi, Act II: La tregenda
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  51. 2 Tosca, Act III: E lucevan le stelle 02:59
    Track
    2
    Title
    Tosca, Act III: E lucevan le stelle
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Charles Castronovo
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  52. 3 Madama Butterfly, Act II: Coro a bocca chiusa 03:13
    Track
    3
    Title
    Madama Butterfly, Act II: Coro a bocca chiusa
    Duration
    03:13
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  53. 4 Tosca, Act II: Vissi d'arte 03:20
    Track
    4
    Title
    Tosca, Act II: Vissi d'arte
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Mirella Freni
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Kurt Peter Eichhorn
  54. 5 Manon Lescaut, Act III: Intermezzo 05:20
    Track
    5
    Title
    Manon Lescaut, Act III: Intermezzo
    Duration
    05:20
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  55. 6 Mentìa l'avviso (arr. J.X. Schachtner for voice and orchestra) 04:22
    Track
    6
    Title
    Mentìa l'avviso (arr. J.X. Schachtner for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    04:22
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Charles Castronovo
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  56. 7 La bohème, Act I: Si. Mi chiamano Mimi 04:43
    Track
    7
    Title
    La bohème, Act I: Si. Mi chiamano Mimi
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Mirella Freni
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Kurt Peter Eichhorn
  57. 8 Manon Lescaut, Act II: Sulla vetta tu del monte 01:54
    Track
    8
    Title
    Manon Lescaut, Act II: Sulla vetta tu del monte
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Anna Bonitatibus, Murni Suwetja, Charlotte Deppe, Carolina große Darrelmann, Gabriela Mährle
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Corrado Rovaris
  58. 9 Preludio Sinfonico 08:28
    Track
    9
    Title
    Preludio Sinfonico
    Duration
    08:28
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  59. 10 Turandot, Act III Scene 1: Nessun dorma! 03:06
    Track
    10
    Title
    Turandot, Act III Scene 1: Nessun dorma!
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Javier Camarena
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  60. 11 Storiella d'amore (arr. J.X. Schachtner for voice and orchestra) 05:02
    Track
    11
    Title
    Storiella d'amore (arr. J.X. Schachtner for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    05:02
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Charles Castronovo
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  61. 12 Crisantemi (arr. L. Drew for string orchestra) 06:38
    Track
    12
    Title
    Crisantemi (arr. L. Drew for string orchestra)
    Duration
    06:38
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  62. 13 Sogno d'or (arr. H. Arman for soprano and orchestra) 04:05
    Track
    13
    Title
    Sogno d'or (arr. H. Arman for soprano and orchestra)
    Duration
    04:05
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Chen Reiss
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  63. 14 Sole e amore (arr. J.X. Schachtner for voice and orchestra) 01:54
    Track
    14
    Title
    Sole e amore (arr. J.X. Schachtner for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Charles Castronovo
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  64. 15 La bohème, Act II: Quando me'n vo' 02:49
    Track
    15
    Title
    La bohème, Act II: Quando me'n vo'
    Duration
    02:49
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Mirella Freni
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Vladimir Ghiaurov
  65. 16 Turandot, Act I: Perché tarda la luna? 04:38
    Track
    16
    Title
    Turandot, Act I: Perché tarda la luna?
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  66. 17 Turandot, Act III: Tu, che di gel sei cinta 02:36
    Track
    17
    Title
    Turandot, Act III: Tu, che di gel sei cinta
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Mirella Freni
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Kurt Peter Eichhorn
  67. 18 Madama Butterfly, Act II: Intermezzo 07:31
    Track
    18
    Title
    Madama Butterfly, Act II: Intermezzo
    Duration
    07:31
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić
  68. 19 Messa di Gloria: Agnus Dei 02:35
    Track
    19
    Title
    Messa di Gloria: Agnus Dei
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Tomislav Mužek, George Petean
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner Rundfunkorchester
    Conductor
    Ivan Repušić