Posted by Jerry Lane on June 25, 19103 at 18:07:07:

In Reply to: Puccini in Albuquerque? posted by Carolina on April 23, 19102 at 11:43:57:

: I have been unable to confirm one source that I have read that Puccini visited New Mexico to compose portions of Faniculla del West. Does anyone know if he, in fact, was ever there? Thanks!

New Mexico Magazine (June 1948) in an article titled: The Man Who Wrote "Ben Hur" by Amy Pmore Hurt.

...In Albuquerque the General (Wallace) usually stayed at the house located at 1429 West Central Avenue, on the main highway between Old Albuquerque and New Albuquerque, later designated at U.S.Highway 66.
"The house, one of the first built in the new frontier town, was owned by a relative of General Lew Wallace," Mr Simpier (long-time resident of Alb.) remembered.... Next to it stood another two-storied adobe house, while two doors west was a house that offered refuge to the famous composer, Giacomo Puccini.
"Puccini hadn't been treated very kindly in the Old Country," related the little old cobbler (Simpier). "So he followed his friend De Mauro to America, and subsequently to Albuquerque, where De Mauro, a famous violinist, had brought his wife for health reasons. Puccini often took refuge in the Wallace house. He needed peace and quiet in which to work and De Mauro's constant pricticing on the violin prohibited that. It was in the same upstairs bedroom where General Wallace liked to stay that Puccini wrote some of the scores for his immortal La Boheme."
Later, it has been said, his residence in New Mexico inspired Puccini to write that other great opera, The Girl of the Golden West.(end of quote from New Mexico Magazine.

There is still (in 2003) a Golden West Saloon (part of the El Rey Theater) in downtown Albuquerque and I think the family name of the owners is Puccini. The is also a law firm here with a Puccini member.

Good Luck,

Jerry Lane, The Book Stop (used books), Alb, NM

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• Re: Puccini in Albuquerque? Russ 03:10:32 2/09/104 (0)

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