[Puccini, Giacomo. (1858–1924)] Chini, Galileo. (1873–1956). Four Original Set design paintings for the premiere of Turandot. Four of the strikingly beautiful and highly accomplished original set designs from the historic first production of Puccini's "Turandot." Pencil, ink and watercolor/gouache on paper with the printed dyeline outlines. Mounted on later linen backing, early 20th c. Two sheets, with the printed signature, "G. Chini, M.D. Firenze." Each approximately 13 x 19 inches.
"Turandot - Atto I." Scene identified in pencil along bottom of painting. Edges chipped, with small tears extending just into painted border at three areas along the bottom and right sides. Otherwise fine.
"Puccini G. Turando Atto 2 Scena 1a." Scene identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin. Page corners chipped, overall fine.
"G. Puccini TURANDOT. Scena Ultima. Atto III [in ink] G. Chini .M.D. Firenze 24." Act identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin, with the printed dyeline information. Small pin holes to page corners, overall fine.
"Puccini G. Turando Atto 3 Scena Ultima." Scene identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin, below the printed dyeline ""G. Puccini TURANDOT. Scena Ultima. Atto III [in ink] G. Chini .M.D. Firenze 24." Very fine.
On 14 February 1924, Puccini wrote to Carlo Clausetti at Ricordi about the stage designs: "I am thinking about the scenery...Now I have seen [Galileo] Chini, who did the set for Schicchi, and who lived in Siam and China for four years. He would be happy to sketch the scenery for me...I maintain that with Chini and Brunelleschi we might have a mise-en-scene that would be artistic, and above all unusual and original. To go looking abroad (Vienna, Berlin) is inappropriate, and, to tell you the truth, I am in favor of entrusting this important task to our native artists." [CP, ltr 882, p. 548]
"Galileo Chini, a fellow Tuscan...did design the scenery for the premiere of 'Turandot'. Chini's experience as a scenographer had been primarily for the spoken stage; he had worked particularly closely with the dramatist Sem Benelli. Chini's first set designs for La Scala appeared on the occasion of the 'prima assoluta' of Giordano's 'La cena delle beffe' (20 December 1924), an opera setting of one of Benelli's plays. Chini worked comparatively infrequently at La Scala, however; Antonio Rovescalli and Edoardo Marchioro were then the house set designers." (William Ashbrook and Harold Powers, "Puccini's Turandot," p. 142)
Turandot was first performed two years after the composer's death, in Milan at La Scala on April 25, 1926. Toscanini, who conducted, performed only Puccini's music and not the additions by Alfano, who had been selectedby Ricordi to complete the opera, left unfinished by the composer. In the historic first performance, in the middle of Act IIIafter Liù's death, Toscanini famouly put down his baton, turned to the audience and stated "Qui finisce l'opera, perché a questo punto il maestro è morto" ["Here the opera ends because at this point the Maestro died"].
"Turandot - Atto I." Scene identified in pencil along bottom of painting. Edges chipped, with small tears extending just into painted border at three areas along the bottom and right sides. Otherwise fine.
"Puccini G. Turando Atto 2 Scena 1a." Scene identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin. Page corners chipped, overall fine.
"G. Puccini TURANDOT. Scena Ultima. Atto III [in ink] G. Chini .M.D. Firenze 24." Act identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin, with the printed dyeline information. Small pin holes to page corners, overall fine.
"Puccini G. Turando Atto 3 Scena Ultima." Scene identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin, below the printed dyeline ""G. Puccini TURANDOT. Scena Ultima. Atto III [in ink] G. Chini .M.D. Firenze 24." Very fine.
On 14 February 1924, Puccini wrote to Carlo Clausetti at Ricordi about the stage designs: "I am thinking about the scenery...Now I have seen [Galileo] Chini, who did the set for Schicchi, and who lived in Siam and China for four years. He would be happy to sketch the scenery for me...I maintain that with Chini and Brunelleschi we might have a mise-en-scene that would be artistic, and above all unusual and original. To go looking abroad (Vienna, Berlin) is inappropriate, and, to tell you the truth, I am in favor of entrusting this important task to our native artists." [CP, ltr 882, p. 548]
"Galileo Chini, a fellow Tuscan...did design the scenery for the premiere of 'Turandot'. Chini's experience as a scenographer had been primarily for the spoken stage; he had worked particularly closely with the dramatist Sem Benelli. Chini's first set designs for La Scala appeared on the occasion of the 'prima assoluta' of Giordano's 'La cena delle beffe' (20 December 1924), an opera setting of one of Benelli's plays. Chini worked comparatively infrequently at La Scala, however; Antonio Rovescalli and Edoardo Marchioro were then the house set designers." (William Ashbrook and Harold Powers, "Puccini's Turandot," p. 142)
Turandot was first performed two years after the composer's death, in Milan at La Scala on April 25, 1926. Toscanini, who conducted, performed only Puccini's music and not the additions by Alfano, who had been selectedby Ricordi to complete the opera, left unfinished by the composer. In the historic first performance, in the middle of Act IIIafter Liù's death, Toscanini famouly put down his baton, turned to the audience and stated "Qui finisce l'opera, perché a questo punto il maestro è morto" ["Here the opera ends because at this point the Maestro died"].
[Puccini, Giacomo. (1858–1924)] Chini, Galileo. (1873–1956). Four Original Set design paintings for the premiere of Turandot. Four of the strikingly beautiful and highly accomplished original set designs from the historic first production of Puccini's "Turandot." Pencil, ink and watercolor/gouache on paper with the printed dyeline outlines. Mounted on later linen backing, early 20th c. Two sheets, with the printed signature, "G. Chini, M.D. Firenze." Each approximately 13 x 19 inches.
"Turandot - Atto I." Scene identified in pencil along bottom of painting. Edges chipped, with small tears extending just into painted border at three areas along the bottom and right sides. Otherwise fine.
"Puccini G. Turando Atto 2 Scena 1a." Scene identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin. Page corners chipped, overall fine.
"G. Puccini TURANDOT. Scena Ultima. Atto III [in ink] G. Chini .M.D. Firenze 24." Act identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin, with the printed dyeline information. Small pin holes to page corners, overall fine.
"Puccini G. Turando Atto 3 Scena Ultima." Scene identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin, below the printed dyeline ""G. Puccini TURANDOT. Scena Ultima. Atto III [in ink] G. Chini .M.D. Firenze 24." Very fine.
On 14 February 1924, Puccini wrote to Carlo Clausetti at Ricordi about the stage designs: "I am thinking about the scenery...Now I have seen [Galileo] Chini, who did the set for Schicchi, and who lived in Siam and China for four years. He would be happy to sketch the scenery for me...I maintain that with Chini and Brunelleschi we might have a mise-en-scene that would be artistic, and above all unusual and original. To go looking abroad (Vienna, Berlin) is inappropriate, and, to tell you the truth, I am in favor of entrusting this important task to our native artists." [CP, ltr 882, p. 548]
"Galileo Chini, a fellow Tuscan...did design the scenery for the premiere of 'Turandot'. Chini's experience as a scenographer had been primarily for the spoken stage; he had worked particularly closely with the dramatist Sem Benelli. Chini's first set designs for La Scala appeared on the occasion of the 'prima assoluta' of Giordano's 'La cena delle beffe' (20 December 1924), an opera setting of one of Benelli's plays. Chini worked comparatively infrequently at La Scala, however; Antonio Rovescalli and Edoardo Marchioro were then the house set designers." (William Ashbrook and Harold Powers, "Puccini's Turandot," p. 142)
Turandot was first performed two years after the composer's death, in Milan at La Scala on April 25, 1926. Toscanini, who conducted, performed only Puccini's music and not the additions by Alfano, who had been selectedby Ricordi to complete the opera, left unfinished by the composer. In the historic first performance, in the middle of Act IIIafter Liù's death, Toscanini famouly put down his baton, turned to the audience and stated "Qui finisce l'opera, perché a questo punto il maestro è morto" ["Here the opera ends because at this point the Maestro died"].
"Turandot - Atto I." Scene identified in pencil along bottom of painting. Edges chipped, with small tears extending just into painted border at three areas along the bottom and right sides. Otherwise fine.
"Puccini G. Turando Atto 2 Scena 1a." Scene identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin. Page corners chipped, overall fine.
"G. Puccini TURANDOT. Scena Ultima. Atto III [in ink] G. Chini .M.D. Firenze 24." Act identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin, with the printed dyeline information. Small pin holes to page corners, overall fine.
"Puccini G. Turando Atto 3 Scena Ultima." Scene identified in ink in the hand of the artist in the lower right blank margin, below the printed dyeline ""G. Puccini TURANDOT. Scena Ultima. Atto III [in ink] G. Chini .M.D. Firenze 24." Very fine.
On 14 February 1924, Puccini wrote to Carlo Clausetti at Ricordi about the stage designs: "I am thinking about the scenery...Now I have seen [Galileo] Chini, who did the set for Schicchi, and who lived in Siam and China for four years. He would be happy to sketch the scenery for me...I maintain that with Chini and Brunelleschi we might have a mise-en-scene that would be artistic, and above all unusual and original. To go looking abroad (Vienna, Berlin) is inappropriate, and, to tell you the truth, I am in favor of entrusting this important task to our native artists." [CP, ltr 882, p. 548]
"Galileo Chini, a fellow Tuscan...did design the scenery for the premiere of 'Turandot'. Chini's experience as a scenographer had been primarily for the spoken stage; he had worked particularly closely with the dramatist Sem Benelli. Chini's first set designs for La Scala appeared on the occasion of the 'prima assoluta' of Giordano's 'La cena delle beffe' (20 December 1924), an opera setting of one of Benelli's plays. Chini worked comparatively infrequently at La Scala, however; Antonio Rovescalli and Edoardo Marchioro were then the house set designers." (William Ashbrook and Harold Powers, "Puccini's Turandot," p. 142)
Turandot was first performed two years after the composer's death, in Milan at La Scala on April 25, 1926. Toscanini, who conducted, performed only Puccini's music and not the additions by Alfano, who had been selectedby Ricordi to complete the opera, left unfinished by the composer. In the historic first performance, in the middle of Act IIIafter Liù's death, Toscanini famouly put down his baton, turned to the audience and stated "Qui finisce l'opera, perché a questo punto il maestro è morto" ["Here the opera ends because at this point the Maestro died"].