Puccini’s Crisantemi – arranged for solo piano by Neil Crossland
Neil Crossland’s arrangement of Giacomo Puccini’s Crisantemi (Chrysanthemums) for solo piano offers a fresh and intimate perspective on one of Puccini’s most poignant orchestral works. Originally composed in 1890 as an elegy for the Duke of Savoy, Crisantemi is a single-movement piece of profound melancholy, written for string quartet and later adapted by Puccini for full string orchestra. In this piano transcription, Crossland preserves the rich harmonic texture and lyrical sweep of the original while revealing the inner voicing and emotional nuance that lie beneath the surface. The arrangement captures both the operatic breadth and chamber-like intimacy of Puccini’s writing, making it a compelling addition to the solo piano repertoire.
