Directed by GUY DAINES
(From Edinburgh)
Some musicians claim that Gianni Schicchi is Puccini's finest musical effort, and it would be difficult to find a happier or more comprehending union of words and music than in this wittily sparkling one act comic opera. The text was written by Puccini's great friend Giachino Forzano , a playwright of renown in Italy, and the story has the true ring of a mediaeval farce. It was first produced in 1918 in New York, together with two other one-act operas which are now not often performed.
Gianni Schicchi is, however, very popular in all Continental opera houses, though in England it has not thoroughly endeared itself to English audiences. One reason for which it is difficult to find credence has been put forward for this neglect. It has been more or less authoritatively stated that the British public shies at attempting to pronounce the title of it at the Box Office, and in self-defence at the last minute books for something else-say, Carmen-instead. If it is possible there be any such, for their information the correct pronunciation is, roughly, Janny Skeeky.