Giacomo Puccini

Born in 1858 in Lucca, he came from a family with musical traditions. His ancestors were organists and conductors in the chapel of St. Martin's Church in his hometown. Young Puccini was already playing the organ in two local churches at the age of 14, but he was more interested in opera music. Therefore, at the age of 22, he entered the Conservatory in Milan. There he discovered the true world of artists by getting to know the Scapigliati group, to which the excellent librettist Arrigo Boito belonged.
Puccini's first opera was created in 1884 and is titled 'Willidy'. Right after that, thanks to the support of the music publisher Ricordi, with whom he established a lifelong friendship, the artist composed the lyric drama 'Edgar'. However, this work did not receive positive reviews. His third opera was 'Manon Lescaut', which gave the composer a ticket to the world of opera artists. The next opera was 'La Bohème', whose arias can be heard on musical stages around the world. 'Tosca' and 'Madame Butterfly' were not well received during their premieres at La Scala in Milan, but after a reevaluation by the author, they were successful. Puccini's last opera was 'Turandot', left unfinished by the artist himself due to his death in 1924. This work was completed by Franco Alfano and staged in 1926, bringing great success to the deceased composer.
Giacomo Puccini's work is primarily emotionally charged and theatrical operas. They are delicate works, with sophisticated orchestration and a rich melodic line. The rhythm is controlled to manipulate audience reactions. The main theme that runs through Puccini's operas is the destructive impact of society on a young and innocent girl.