PucciniPuccini started
his career as a church organist. Then at the Milan Conservatory, Ponchielli
steered him toward opera. His first few attempts were failures, but with Manon
Lescaut and La Boh�me he achieved fame and fortune. This was
followed by Madam Butterfly and his last opera, Turandot.
Puccini
was a master at writing melodies for the human voice, and had a great sense of
drama and melodrama. Once he had established his successful formula, his
technique remained the same, and his box office receipts soared.