Giacomo Puccini was born on December 22, 1858 in Lucca, Italy and died on November 29, 1924. He was a great composer, member of the artistic current verismo.

Biography and Career :

He came from a family accustomed with music. Unfortunately, his father died when he was only five years old.

Giacomo Puccini received his first music lessons from his uncle, Fortunato Maggi and continued his studies with Carlo Angeloni.

In 1876, after he saw a representation of "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi, he realized that he wanted to be a composer and soon after that he composed a Motet and a "Credo", which had a bit of success.

Puccini left to Milan in 1880 to attend the Conservatory being financial supported by Queen Margherita of Italy.

The premiere of his opera "Le Villi" took place a t Teatro Dal Verme on May 31, 1884. It turned out to be a true success.

After hard work his opera "Edgar" was shown at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, but didn't have a special success.

A real success came in 1895 with "Manon Lescaut" and one year later "La Boheme".

The main role in "Tosca" was played by the Romanian Hariclea Darclee in Rome, Italy at the Teatro Costanzi Theatre.

He chose to marry, in 1904, Elvira Bonturi and the couple had one son, Tonio.

In the same year of his wedding, on February 17, 1904, his opera "Madame Butterfly" was a failure.

"La Fanciulla del West" presented in New York at Metropolitan Opera was well received by the audience and it was a success. Eight years later in the same city and at the same theatre had the premiere "Il Tabarro", "Suor Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi".

He moved to Viareggio in 1921 and started working at "Turandot", but this work remained unfinished.

On November 29, 1924 he died in Bruxelles.

Most Important Operas :

- Le Villi
- Edgar
- Manon Lescaut
- La boheme
- Tosca
- Madama Butterfly
- La fanciulla del West
- La rondine
- Il trittico: Il tabarro
- Turandot
_{Giacomo Puccini Image : cs.princeton.edu}

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Giacomo Puccini Pictures

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Category: Musicians  - ( Musicians Archive)

Date Added: 22 June '07

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