puccini

Missa di Gloria, composed by 22 year-old Giacomo Puccini, was his
graduation exercise from the Istituto Musicale Pacini.

It had its first performance in Lucca on July 12, 1880. This robust,
quasi-operatic mass features full chorus (SATB) with tenor and bass
solos, and orchestra.

It received its first in 1880 and was never published in Puccini’s
lifetime and was not performed again until 1952 in Chicago and Naples.

However, Puccini used themes from the mass in his operas, such as the
Agnus Dei which appears in Manon Lescaut.

Even at their young age, both composers show distinct leanings toward
the dramatic with sparkling dialogues between sections and clearly
defined “characters” throughout. These are no run-of-the-mill
mass settings, rather they are highly dramatic settings of timeless
texts.