Puccini is undeniably one of those names that will forever be linked with opera.<\/p>\n
Born on Dec. 22, 1858 (his full name was Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini) in Lucca, Italy, he was set to occupy the position of maestro di cappella after his father\u2019s death. However, he was only six-years-old and unable to occupy the position his family had held for 124 years.<\/p>\n
He studied music in his formative years and by age 21, he composed his mass and then followed it with his Capriccio Sinfonico.<\/p>\n
His first opera, \u201cLe Villi\u201d premiered in 1884 and its modest success enabled him to write his next opera, \u201cEdgar.\u201d It was a major failure and almost cost Puccini his career, as the young composer was also involved in behavior deemed scandalous at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cManon Lescaut,\u201d his next opera launched his career in earnest, its success a huge boon for him. From there he became the Italian composer of his time, composing until his death in 1923 from throat cancer.<\/p>\n
His operas retain a place in the standard repertoire, noted for their intense emotions and strong melodic pull.<\/p>\n
Where do you begin? Almost every single one of Puccini\u2019s operas is a repertory staple and among the most performed works in the entire opera world. \u201cLa Boh\u00e8me\u201d is likely his most famous, but \u201cMadama Butterfly,\u201d \u201cTurandot,\u201d and \u201cTosca\u201d are certainly up there as well.<\/p>\n
But even lesser-performed works such as \u201cLa Rondine\u201d and \u201cLa Fanciulla del West\u201d retain strong places in the standard repertoire.<\/p>\n
Puccini is right there with Wagner, Verdi, and Mozart as the major composers of the standard opera repertoire.<\/p>\n
Ranking Puccini’s Operas From Least to Best<\/a><\/p>\n 5 Powerful Moments In Puccini\u2019s Operas<\/a><\/p>\n One Essential Recording of Every Puccini Opera<\/a><\/p>\n Puccini\u2019s Music in \u201cThe Immigrant\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Puccini\u2019s Music in \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Puccini\u2019s Music in \u201cMoonstruck\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Profile on \u201cTosca\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Profile on \u201cManon Lescaut\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Profile on \u201cLa Boh\u00e8me\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Profile on \u201cMadama Butterfly\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n