Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
Giacomo Puccini was born on December 22, 1858, to a family of church
musicians in Lucca. He first studied with his uncle at the Instituto
Pacini in Lucca, but a performance of Verdi's "Aida" brought forth a love
for operatic composition. Puccini attended the Milan Conservatory and
studied under Bazzini and Ponchielli. His first opera, "Le Villi," was
written in 1884, at the age of 26.
The opera "Edgar," written in 1893, was a failure, but "Manon Lescaut"
proved to be an international success. More successes followed, including
three of the most popular operas in history: "La Bohème" (1896),
"Tosca" (1900), and the incomparable "Madama Butterfly," written in 1904.
For each opera, Puccini collaborated with the librettists Illica and
Giacosa. The successful team broke up with Giacosa's death in 1906.
Domestic tragedies plagued the rest of Puccini's life. His next opera,
"The West," did not appear until 1910. Although containing many musical
and stylistic innovations, this opera has never received the popular
acclaim of his earlier work.
Puccini's final opera, "Turandot," produced in 1926, is a grand and
ambitious piece. Sadly, the work was unfinished and the final act had
to be written by Franco Alfano. The conductor, Leopold Stokowski, later
refused to conduct the final act; instead, he told the audience, "and
here the composer laid down his pen." Stokowski then left the stage.
Puccini died on November 29, 1924 in Brussels at the age of 65.
Puccini's Operas
- 1884 Le Villi
- 1889 Edgar
- 1893 Manon Lescaut
- 1896 La Bohème
- 1900 Tosca
- 1904 Madama Butterfly
- 1910 La Fanciulla del West
- 1917 La Rondine
- 1918 Il Trittico
- 1918 Gianni Schicchi
- 1926 Turandot
