Operatic Composer. Born into a family of church musicians, Giacomo Puccini received his formal training at Milan Conservatory. He wrote his first opera, "Le Villi," in 1884, earning a working agreement with Italian publishing house Ricordi. His best known works include "Manon Lescaut" (1893), "La Bohème" (1896), "Tosca" (1900), "Madama Butterfly" (1904), the American-set "The Girl of the Golden West" (1910), "La Rondine" (1917), "Il Trittico" (1918) and the posthumous "Turandot" (1926). Curiously enough, Puccini's two best-known works, "La Bohème" and "Madama Butterfly," both opened to outright hostility from their premiere audiences, though they would earn rave receptions thereafter. This is especially unusual considering Puccini's inherent conservatism. He did not challenge his audiences like Stravinsky, nor did he strive for megalithic grandeur like Wagner or Verdi. Rather, according to Puccini himself, "The only music I can compose is that of little things." His work remains an integral part of the operatic repertoire.
Operatic Composer. Born into a family of church musicians, Giacomo Puccini received his formal training at Milan Conservatory. He wrote his first opera, "Le Villi," in 1884, earning a working agreement with Italian publishing house Ricordi. His best known works include "Manon Lescaut" (1893), "La Bohème" (1896), "Tosca" (1900), "Madama Butterfly" (1904), the American-set "The Girl of the Golden West" (1910), "La Rondine" (1917), "Il Trittico" (1918) and the posthumous "Turandot" (1926). Curiously enough, Puccini's two best-known works, "La Bohème" and "Madama Butterfly," both opened to outright hostility from their premiere audiences, though they would earn rave receptions thereafter. This is especially unusual considering Puccini's inherent conservatism. He did not challenge his audiences like Stravinsky, nor did he strive for megalithic grandeur like Wagner or Verdi. Rather, according to Puccini himself, "The only music I can compose is that of little things." His work remains an integral part of the operatic repertoire.
Bio by: Stuthehistoryguy
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