TOSCA - E lucevan le stelle

TOSCA - E lucevan le stelle

Giacomo Puccini, arr. for string quartet by Lucian Moraru

SonArt Edition 2019

by Helen Tuckey

The famous aria “And the stars were shining” is sung in the opera by Mario Cavaradossi, a painter in love with the singer Tosca, as he awaits his tragic destiny. In this arrangement, which only lasts 36 bars, the first violin plays the role of the spinto tenor (‘con grande sentimento’). At the moments of highest drama, various other instruments join in octaves. Mostly the soaring melody is driven forward by syncopated rhythms in the viola and second violin. The original brooding key of B minor is retained. Wonderful to have this for string quartet!

Stringendo (Australian Strings Association’s magazine) - October, 2022