This Interview was made at the start of the 2014 London Season at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. It took place in the Music Director Sir Antonio "Tony" Pappano's simply furnished office - a desk, a couch and many photographs of stage and operas - and on the upper wall four photographs of Puccini.

Maestro, is Puccini your favourite composer?

"I think the elements that he combines in his art speak to me very strongly, an art that is made up of sophistication on one hand and raw theatricality on the other hand. The obvious influence that his later scores had on film music is underestimated. I believe he was a pioneer........"