S and T by Aedites

Puzzle explanation

The thematic entries clued by wordplay only were the names of Giacomo Puccini and the lead soprano (S) and tenor (T) roles from five of his most popular operas: La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Turandot and Manon Lescaut. The puzzle marked the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation
Across
1 SHAMA A after SHAM
5 TURANDOT TOUT < around RAND
10 CALAF (Ea)C(h f)A(mi)L(y f)A(r o)F(f)
11 RODOLFO FOOL * after ROD
13 ASCITES ASS around CITE
14 RENATO (Child)REN AT O(rphanage)
15 PINKERTON PINK + (NOT + RE) <
18 SCORNS CORN in SS
19 DIASTEMA ADAMITES *
21 MIMI M(aths) I(nstructors) M(ade) I(mmigrants)
23 CAVARADOSSI RAD in (CAVA + (IS SO) <)
26 IAGO I(s) A(wful) G(arrotting) O(thers)
27 FRONDENT DEN in FRONT
31 AMELIA A + MELIA
34 CIO-CIO-SAN CIO + CIO + SAN
35 ONE-TWO ONE TWO could be seen as 12
36 PUCCINI (I + NICE + CUP) < − E
37 MODIOLA MOD + (v)IOLA
38 TOSCA ASCOT *
39 ONYCHITE (WHY NOTICE) * − W
40 STAYS 2 meanings
Down
1 SCAPED SCRAPED − R
2 HASIDIC (sig)H AS I DIC(tate)
3 MAIKOS AMOK * around I + S
4 AFTER-TAX AFTER + TAX(a)
5 TIERCE TIER + CE
6 RO-ROS ROOS around R
7 NON-COMS (k)NO(w) (age)NC(ies) (f)O(r) (stea)MS(hips)
8 OFTEN O(ut) F(or) T(he) E(ntire) N(ight)
9 TOOTSIE TIE around (b)OOTS
12 LAIRISED (I + RISE) in LAD
16 TAMARAO ((A + RAM) in OAT) <
17 LAAGERED LA + AGREED *
20 CONVICTS CON + VICTORS − OR
22 GIACOMO (MAGIC + O + O) *
24 VOLATIC VOLA + TIC
25 INFANCY IN + FANCY
28 OSCULE COLEUS *
29 DOOCOT DOOCE + OT − E
30 TENIAS (ho)TE(ls) (de)NI(ed) (c)AS(h)
32 MANON MAN + ON
33 AIOLI (Dub)AI OLI(ves)
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