(December 22, 1858 – November 29, 1924) Puccini was born in
Lucca, Italy, a member of a large family with a five-generation
lineage of musicians going back to the early 18th century. His
first job, at age 14, was as an organist to the two churches of
Lucca, but he quickly became more interested in opera than
church music. A performance of Verdi's Aida at Pisa in 1876 made
such an impact on him that he decided to follow his heart and
began to pursue operatic composition. With a scholarship and
financial support from a wealthy uncle, he was able to enter the
Milan Conservatory in 1880. While in Milan, he came into contact
with a group of Milanese artists, called the Scapigliati, who
lived the Bohemian lifestyle. Puccini wrote his first opera, Le
villi, a "dramatic legend" about mythical, vampire-like
creatures found in Italian mythology, in 1884. It was
successful, and opened at the La Scala in Milan the next year.
His second opera, Edgar, was a less well-received, but his
third, Manon Lescaut, was celebrated,