Dina Cancryn, vocal soloist

Premiering in 1896, Puccini’s seminal masterpiece La Bohème transports listeners to the vibrant streets of Paris in the 1830s, following a group of bohemian friends—Rodolfo, Mimì, Marcello, Musetta, and their companions—as they navigate passion, poverty, and the fleeting joys of youth. “Donde lieta usci” is sung by Mimì, who laments parting from her lover Rodolfo after agreeing to separate, influenced by their shared poverty and their inability to provide for each other.

Italian composer Giacomo Puccini inherited an impressive musical legacy when he was born in 1858. Brought into a family of organists and composers spanning five generations, he became the first to achieve international stardom through such works as Turandot, Madame Butterfly, and La Bohème, in which his lush melodies and dramatic narratives continue to impact audiences to this day. Despite being largely disinterested in music in his youth, his mother’s fervent support led him to begin his musical journey. He began his career as a church organist when he was 14, but after seeing Verdi’s masterwork Aida a few years later, young Puccini was set on the path of a long and lucrative career as an operatic composer.

Program note researched and written by Cameron Wilson