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Giacomo Puccini

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Giacomo Puccini was born on 22 December 1858 in Lucca, into a family that had for generations directed the church music of the city. His father died when he was still a child. After a short career as an organist he decided to become an opera composer, having seen a performance of Verdi's Aïda. He studied at the Milan conservatoire and with Le Villi in 1884 got his first opera onto the stage. His breakthrough came with Manon Lescaut in 1893.

Music and breakthrough

The works followed that kept him famous: La bohème in 1896, Tosca in 1900 and Madama Butterfly in 1904. Madama Butterfly received a hostile reception at its first performance in Milan, but was revised afterwards. His last opera, Turandot, remained unfinished; Franco Alfano completed it after his death in 1924. These four operas are among the most performed and recorded in the entire repertoire.

Influence

Puccini is regarded as the greatest and most successful continuer of Italian opera after Verdi. His music is richly orchestrated and builds on melodies that grip you directly. In Tosca he used fixed musical hallmarks for certain characters, which reminded some of Wagner. His operatic melodies later returned again and again in film, advertising and pop music, and recordings of his work appear on many albums by great singers and conductors.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to an aria from La bohème and notice how the singing voice rises above the orchestra. Hear how the melody carries you into the emotion of the moment.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists