1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Puccini, Giacomo

PUCCINI, GIACOMO (1858–), Italian operatic composer, was born at Lucca, of a family already distinguished in music; his great-great-grandfather Giacomo, great-grandfather Antonio, grandfather Domenico, and father Michele, being all well known in the art. He was educated at the Milan Conservatoire, and in 1884 his opera Le Villi was performed at the Teatro del Verme. In 1889 his Edgar was performed at La Scala, and in 1893 his Manon Lescaut in Turin. But it was the production of La Bohème in 1896 that made him famous, and this opera had a great success everywhere. Tosca followed in 1900, and in 1904 Madama Butterfly confirmed the highest opinions of his talent.