Giacomo Puccini Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (December 22, 1858 - November 29, 1924) is regarded as one of the great operatic composers of the late 19th and early 20th century.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Music 3 References |
Puccini was born in Lucca, Italy into a family with a long history of music.
After the death of his father when he was only five years old, he was sent to study with
his uncle Fortunato Magi, who considered him to be a poor and undisciplined student.
Later, he took the position of church organist, but it was not until he saw a performance
of Verdi's Aida that he became inspired to be an opera composer.
From 1880 to 1883 he studied at the Milan Conservatory under Amilcare Ponchielli and
Antonio Bazzini. In 1882, Puccini entered a competition for a one-act opera. Although he
did not win, Le Villi was later staged in 1884 at the Teatro dal Verme; it also caught the
attention of the publisher Giulio Ricordi who commissioned a second opera (Edgar).
Not only was Manon Lescaut, his third opera, a great success, it also begin his relationship with the librettests
Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, who worked him on his next three operas. The first of these, La Bohème (based on a
story by Henry Murger), is considered one of his best works, as well as one of the most romantic operas ever
composed. His next opera, Tosca, was Puccini's first foray into verismo. Madame Butterfly (based on
a play by David Belasco) was greeted with great hostility at its opening (mostly orchestrated by his rivals),
but after some reworking it has become another of his most successful operas.
Composition was slow after this. In 1903 he was injured in an automobile accident.
In 1906 Giacosa died. In 1909, there was scandal after their maid was falsely accused by Puccini's
wife of having an affair with Puccini and then committed suicide. And in 1912, Puccini's
editor, Ricordi, died.
In 1918, Il Trittico premiered. This work is composed of three one-act operas in the style of the
Parisian Grand Guignol: a horrific episode (Il Tabarro), a sentimental tragedy (Suor Angelica) and a
comedy or farce (Gianni Schicchi). Of the three, Gianni Schicchi is the most popular and Il Tabarro the least. Schicchi is sometimes performed as a double-bill with a one act opera such as Cavalleria Rusticana or I Pagliacci.
Puccini died in Brussels, Belgium in 1924 from complications due to treatment for throat cancer.
Turandot, his last opera was left unfinished; the last two scenes were completed by Franco Alfano. In 2001 a new completion of the final scenes was made by Luciano Berio.
Puccini's major operas include:
This is an Article on Giacomo Puccini. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Giacomo Puccini Life
Music
Complete list:References