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Puccini: Orchestral Music - Wilson

Puccini: Orchestral Music - Wilson

Chandos  CHSA 5385

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Sinfonia of London
John Wilson (conductor)


Puccini is renowned as one of the greatest opera composers of all time and his early works – before Manon Lescaut catapulted him to international fame – offer a fascinating insight into his development as a composer. John Wilson and Sinfonia of London explore this repertoire with characteristic style and commitment, leading us on a journey through student compositions and orchestral extracts from his earliest operas. Studying under Amilcare Ponchielli at the Milan Conservatory from 1880 to 1883, he created the Preludio sinfonico (loosely based on Wagner’s Prelude to Lohengrin), the Scherzo, Trio, and Adagetto, and Capriccio sinfonico, his graduation piece, which famously pre-echoes the opening of La bohème by a decade.

The one-act opera Le Villi was composed for a competition launched by the publisher Sonzogno (Puccini didn’t win), whilst themes from the contemporaneous Tre minuetti and Crisantemi (both for string quartet) were subsequently re-cycled in Manon Lescaut. Verdi’s publisher, Ricordi, bought the rights to Le Villi, and commissioned a new work at the same time: Edgar, which, largely owing to the absurd plot, is arguably Puccini’s only failure, despite some fully mature music easily the match of the more celebrated scores.

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Review by Graham Williams - March 18, 2026

Ever since their rebirth eight years ago, John Wilson’s hand-picked Sinfonia of London has released a remarkable series of SACD recordings on the Chandos label, encompassing a wide range of orchestral music delivered with panache and sensitivity. This is thanks to the absolute rapport between Wilson, his musicians, and the Chandos engineering team – producer Brian Pidgeon and sound engineer Ralph Couzens. The acoustic of their chosen recording venue, the Church of St Augustine, Kilburn, London, has also played a significant role in the success of these releases.

This latest album (their 25th), entitled ‘Puccini Orchestral Music’, features the composer’s early instrumental works, as well as music from his first three operas: ‘Le Villi’, ‘Edgar’, and ‘Manon Lescaut’ – the latter marking his first international success.

The SACD opens with a magical account of the ‘Preludio Sinfonico’, clearly influenced by the prelude to Wagner’s ‘Lohengrin’, yet infused with an Italianate warmth, realised to perfection by Wilson and his superb musicians. The ‘Capriccio Sinfonico’ of 1883 follows. Although not published until 1977, it has since received many recordings – none finer than this one, which fully captures the drama of the piece, from its striking contrasts to the sudden emergence of music later reused at the opening of ‘La Bohème’.

For sheer orchestral excitement, Wilson and the Sinfonia’s punchy account of ‘La Tregenda’ from Act II of ‘Le Villi’ more than delivers. Meanwhile, the preludes to the aforementioned operas reveal the burgeoning talent that would lead to Puccini’s pre-eminence as a composer of opera.

The poignant ‘Crisantemi’ and the lively ‘Tre minuetti’ began life as pieces for string quartet, but their adaptation for string orchestra here showcases the Sinfonia’s rich – yet never cloying – string sound to superb effect.

It need hardly be said that the production and engineering of this hybrid 5.0 multi-channel SACD are up to the usual Chandos exemplary standards.

This album is clearly a labour of love for Wilson and the Sinfonia of London, and their immaculate, finely judged renditions of these works ensure that for many it will be a disc to treasure.

Copyright © 2026 Graham Williams and HRAudio.net

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