Contents
Giacomo Puccini
Composing La bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly, staples of opera stages worldwide.
La bohème · Tosca
- Born
- 22 December 1858
- Birthplace
- Lucca, Italy
- Died
- 29 November 1924
More people
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini was an Italian opera composer known for direct theatrical pacing and expressive melodies. His final opera, Turandot, remained unfinished at his death.
Early life
A musical dynasty
Came from a family that had supplied church musicians to Lucca for generations.
Milan studies
Studied at the Milan Conservatory with support from a royal grant and family assistance.
Career
- 1884
First opera staged
Le Villi brought him to the attention of the publisher Ricordi.
- 1893
Breakthrough
Manon Lescaut established him as a major Italian opera composer.
- 1896–1924
International career
Created his best-known stage works while developing new subjects and orchestral effects.
Selected work
La bohème
Young artists in Paris face love, poverty and loss.
Tosca
A singer and painter become entangled in political repression in Rome.
Madama Butterfly
A Japanese woman’s abandoned marriage becomes the focus of a tragic opera.
Beyond work
Torre del Lago
Made his home near Lake Massaciuccoli, where he enjoyed hunting and outdoor life.
Unfinished finale
Died in Brussels while receiving treatment for throat cancer; Turandot was completed for performance by Franco Alfano.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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