Dr. Luca Bonomi, president and CEO of the Societa Dante Alighieri in Siena, Italy, gave a lecture highlighting the portrayal of women in Giacomo Puccini’s operas on Tuesday, Feb. 12.
Bonomi highlighted the complexity of Puccini’s female characters, which was groundbreaking for lyric operas in the 19th century. Up until this time, women characters were seen as beautiful, but without the type of depth that Puccini desired.
In the late 19th century women in lyric operas began to adapt and change to match the fast-paced changes happening around them. Bonomi focused mostly on the emotion and the personality changes of Puccini’s women. He played clips from some of Puccini’s most famous works including La Boheme, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly.
Each woman and their character showed just how deeply Puccini admired women.
Bonomi ended his lecture with a quote from Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis, that he feels could have been resolved had he and Puccini spoken.
“The great question that has never been answered and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my 30 years of research into the feminine soul, is: ‘What does a woman want?'”
Bonomi is on campus to visit with university officials and faculty to discuss the potential future of the study-abroad program in Siena and throughout Italy. UTM is sending a group of students to participate in this ongoing program in the fall.
Disclaimer: Kindall Bell participated in the Fall 2018 travel study to Siena and received instruction from Bonomi for her opera class during that time.
