I have an opportunity to sing in the chorus for several (concert) performances of this Puccini opera (La Rondine) in September. I gather it’s one of Puccini’s lesser known and less successful works. Does anyone know much about it, or have any experience with it, particularly the male chorus parts?
Yeah, it’s not very well known, although one aria (Chi il bel sogno di Doretta) is pretty popular, and very beautiful.
Um… I’ve performed this opera (as Magda) and am drawing somewhat of a blank on the male chorus parts (sorry if that sounds prima donna-ish, but it has been a few years). There are some party scenes with chorus that I recall. Despite snarky criticism of the opera over the years, I found it to be fun to perform. Light music, waltzes, etc. Nothing terribly taxing, musically. I would do it again.
Thanks for that info **rivulus ** (a decidedly masculine name for a soprano 
).
That sounds great. No major effort involved.
Mrs. Cliffy and I saw it performed by The Washington Opera almost a decade ago. I don’t remember too much about it except that I liked it much more than I’d expected I would for a Puccini opera that wasn’t on the map.
–Cliffy
Yeah, it’s true that it sounds all Roman warrior and that, but I chose it because it’s a species of killifish.
Killifish are often quite pretty, with frilly fins and striking colors (one of my favorites, shown at this site is “Aphyosemion australe” but it’s hard to spell on a regular basis, so I picked Rivulus!). Killifish are also quite “friendly” – as friendly as fish can get – and curious. Anyway, they seemed to be flamboyant enough for a singer, but not too ostentatious. 
Anyway, enjoy the opera…