Puccini was born in Lucca in Tuscany, into a family with five generations of musical history behind them, including composerDomenico Puccini. His father died when Giacomo was five years old, and he was sent to study with his uncle Fortunato Magi, who considered him to be a poor and undisciplined student. Magi may have been prejudiced against his nephew because his contract as choir master stipulated that he would hand over the position to Puccini “as soon as the said Signore Giacomo be old enough to discharge such duties.” Puccini never took the position of churchorganist and choir master in Lucca. When he was 17, he saw a performance of Verdi‘s Aida and became inspired to be an opera composer. 

Madame Butterfly (1904) was initially greeted with great hostility  but, after some reworking, became another of his most successful operas.

After 1904, compositions were less frequent. Following his passion for driving fast cars, Puccini was nearly killed in a major accident in 1903. In 1906 Giacosa died and, in 1909, there was scandal after Puccini’s wife, Elvira, falsely accused their maid Doria Manfredi of having an affair with Puccini. The maid then committed suicide. Elvira was successfully sued by the Manfredis, and Giacomo had to pay damages. Finally, in 1912, the death of Giulio Ricordi, Puccini’s editor and publisher, ended a productive period of his career.