Opera Meets New Media

On the centenary of Giacomo Puccini's death, OPERA MEETS NEW MEDIA - Puccini, Ricordi and the Rise of the Modern Entertainment Industry, a richly illustrated volume published to accompany the exhibition of the same name presented by Bertelsmann and the Archivio Storico Ricordi, takes an unusual perspective: Puccini celebrated his greatest successes at a time of disruptive media innovations. The development of new entertainment technology, above all film and sound recordings, which soon became mainstream, represented a revolution for society and musical culture in the early 20th century, fundamentally challenging the traditional business model of music theater. How could music publishers rise to this challenge? Puccini and his publisher Ricordi provide a fascinating "case study" on the subject. In the publication, edited by Gabriele Dotto, experts shed light on the topic in ten topical essays.