Giacomo Puccini

Giacomo Puccini is probably the best loved of all opera composers. His greatest operas are among the most popular and performed of all time. Arias from his operas such as 'Nessun Dorma' from Turandot have attained massive popularity.

Born in Lucca in Tuscany into a musical family, Puccini didn't show much early musical promise but after seeing a performance of Verdi's 'Aida' he was inspired to become a composer. After a period of study at Milan Conservatory, Puccini moved to Torre del Lago where he built a villa and composed his most successful operas, including La Boheme (1896), Tosca (1900) and Madama Butterfly (1904). Though Puccini's creativity slowed after 1906 he continued to compose successful operas. Puccini's Il Trittico, of 1918, comprised three one act operas, of which Gianni Schicci is the most popular and which contains the famous aria 'O Mio Babbino Caro'.
His twelfth Opera Turandot was left unfinished at his death in 1924, but was subsequently completed by Franco Alfano.

Key Works - Manon Lescaut, La Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Fanciulla del West, La Rondine, Il Trittico, Turandot

Key Artists - Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni, Maria Callas.