Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was born on the 22nd of December 1858 and would go on to become an opera composer that would be labelled "the greatest composer of Italian opera after Verdi". Many of his works are very famous. In fact, among his ouevre are some of the best known operas of all time, amongst them are “La Bohème” (1896), “Tosca” (1900), and “Madama Butterfly” (1904). These are the operatic works that tour most often and have become standards of the genre of music.
One of nine children, his family was considered a local musical dynasty, founded by his great-great grandfather – also named Giacomo – who was maestro di cappella of the Cattedrale di San Martino in Lucca. This position was passed down, father to son, for three generations and each also composed music for the church. They also composed several operas and some even gained relative fame. Our Puccini, however, would go on to gain a far greater level of fame and renown than his family members.
Due to this great fame, his hometown has embraced Puccini and his life and his birthplace has even been made into a museum. Puccini's Birthplace Museum was established in 1973 under the Puccini Foundation. If you are a fan of his work, just find a luxury villa in Lucca and be sure to drop by the museum to learn more about this great musical genius.
Now completely restored, the house in Corte San Lorenzo is now a museum that has photographs, opera costumes and librettos, drafts and other rare documents all on display. One of the more famous items on display is the costume of Turandot, made according to the figure of Umberto Brunelleschi and worn by Maria Jeritza for the premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House of New York in 1926. There are guided tours but the museum can also just be explored at your leisure.
A must for opera fans and Puccini fans, in particular, this little museum is one of the many, many cultural gems that can be found in Lucca.
Due to this great fame, his hometown has embraced Puccini and his life and his birthplace has even been made into a museum. Puccini's Birthplace Museum was established in 1973 under the Puccini Foundation. If you are a fan of his work, just find a luxury villa in Lucca and be sure to drop by the museum to learn more about this great musical genius.
Now completely restored, the house in Corte San Lorenzo is now a museum that has photographs, opera costumes and librettos, drafts and other rare documents all on display. One of the more famous items on display is the costume of Turandot, made according to the figure of Umberto Brunelleschi and worn by Maria Jeritza for the premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House of New York in 1926. There are guided tours but the museum can also just be explored at your leisure.
A must for opera fans and Puccini fans, in particular, this little museum is one of the many, many cultural gems that can be found in Lucca.