Giacomo Puccini

A biography of one of the greatest composers of all time, this volume details the early life and musical career of Giacomo Puccini, including information on his most famous operas: Le Villi, Edgar, Manon, La Boheme, Tosca and Madame Butterfly. Known as “the greatest composer of Italian opera after Verdi,” Puccini was born on December 22, 1858 in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. His grandfather was famous composer Domenico Puccini, and his father, Michele, was a music teacher who died when Puccini was only five years old. After completing his education, Puccini began to study music at the age of 16. In 1880, he enrolled in the Milan Conservatory to study composition. During this time, he entered a competition for a one-act opera. He submitted Le Villi in 1882, and although it was not the winner, the opera debuted on stage just two years later and was Puccini’s first great success. In 1889, Puccini was commissioned to write another opera. He wrote Edgar in the same year, but the piece was not met with much enthusiasm. Living almost in poverty for the next few years, Puccini was finally able to produce incredible pieces beginning in 1896 with La Boheme. This success was followed by Tosca in 1900 and Madame Butterfly in 1904. At the end of 1909 and through 1912, Puccini suffered through a series of personal tragedies. His wife publicly accused him of having an affair with a maid, and his longtime producer and friend died suddenly in an accident. Critics believe it was these tragedies that led to the somber nature of Puccini’s later works and the reason why the composer failed to produce another great opera after 1909. In 1924, Puccini died of a heart attack caused by complications with his throat cancer treatments. Today, Puccini’s operas are performed all over the world and are among the most frequently performed operas of all time. Though the end of his life was rather tragic, most do not remember these events, but only the success of his pieces and the mastery of his works.



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