The Life and Works of Puccini

Giacomo Puccini is known as one of the greatest opera composers to have ever lived. During his career, he produced a number of operas, many of which continue to be performed today. In fact, some of Puccini's operas are among the most frequently performed operas.

The Early Like of Giacomo Puccini

Giacomo Puccini was born Dec. 22, 1858, in Tuscany, Italy. When he was five years old, Puccini's father died. As a result, his mother sent him to study with his uncle. After seeing a performance of Verdi's "Aida," Puccini decided to become an opera composer. With the assistance of a relative and the aid of a financial grant, Puccini was able to enroll in the Milan Conservatory in 1880.
 
While at the conservatory, Puccini wrote "Le Villi," a one-act opera that he entered into a competition. Although Puccini did not win the competition, his work caught the attention of Giulio Ricordi, head of a music publishing company, who commissioned Puccini to write his second opera, "Edgar."

Puccini: Life after the Conservatory

In 1891, Puccini moved to Torre del Lago, where he wrote many of his most famous operas. Here he wrote his third opera, "Manon Lescaut," in 1893. This Puccini opera was considered a great success and put Puccini in contact with Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, with whom he would collaborate on his next three operas, "La Bohème," "La Tosca" and "Madame Butterfly."
 
After composing these operas, Puccini began composing less frequently.

Puccini's Famous Operas

Though Puccini wrote a number of operas during his career, some are more famous than others. Here's a list of some of Puccini's more popular operas:
  • "La Bohème": Written in 1893, "La Bohème" is considered to be one of Puccini's best works. In fact, it is considered to be one of the best romantic operas ever written.

  • "Madame Butterfly": Puccini wrote "Madame Butterfly" in 1904. Though originally considered a failure, "Madame Butterfly" ultimately became one of Puccini's most successful operas.

  • "La Tosca": Written in 1900, "Tosca" is hailed for its realistic depictions of everyday life.

  • "Turnadot": "Turnadot," on which Puccini began working on in March 1920, is Puccini's final opera and was left unfinished. Franco Alfano completed the last two scenes of the opera based on Puccini's sketches.
In addition to these operas, Puccini wrote "Manon Lescaut," "La Fanciulla del West" and "La Rondine."

Puccini's Style

Puccini's operas are noteworthy for a number of reasons. Though some critics say his work lacks seriousness, his operas are well-known for using the orchestra to create a specific atmosphere. Puccini also is known for using a series of chords to represent characters in operas.

Also noteworthy is the way in which Puccini's characters communicate in operas, often singing short phrases to each other as if they were talking.

The melodies Puccini created for his operas are very memorable and remain quite popular.

Puccini's Later Years

In 1923, Puccini's health began to decline. After years of smoking, Puccini began to suffer from a chronic sore throat. After a diagnosis of throat cancer, Puccini began undergoing experimental radiation therapy. On November 29, 1924, Puccini died in Brussels, Belgium, after suffering a heart attack and uncontrolled bleeding following a surgery.

Today, people around the globe continue to enjoy the works of Puccini.

Resources

Cordell, Tim (April 26, 1995). Giacomo Puccini. Retrieved January 10, 2008, from the Edinboro.edu Web site: http://www.edinboro.edu/cwis/music/Cordell/comp-puccini.html.