(December 22, 1858-November 29, 1924)
Died in Brussels, Belgium
Birth Name was Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini
Composed 'La Boheme,' 'Tosca,' 'Edgar,' 'Turandot,' 'Manon Lescaut' and 'Madama Butterfly'

He was a heavy smoker and died of throat cancer.
'Edgar' is deemed a failed fiasco by many critics.
He lost two composing contests before he finally had his masterpiece 'Manon Lescaut.'
He was a very poor student, including in music classes.
He was a perfectionist and that may have deterred some of his success.
He had a strong distrust for opera companies.
His publisher threatened to drop him after 'Edgar.'
He had to move from his villa at Torre del Lago due to toxic peat factory fumes during WW II.
His lack of enthusiasm for the war hurt his career.
His wife had no trust in him and accused him of sleeping with a maid servant.
She had the maid servant publicly denounced and the maid committed suicide.
After the maids suicide, it was determined she was still a virgin.
He was in one of Italy's first car crashes and barely survived.
Some believe he was about to complete his best and one of the greatest works ever but death prevented it.

A teacher introduced him to opera and started his drive for his studies.
He became focused as a student and musician and showed astounding improvement
He attended Pacini Institute and Royal Conservatory of Music.
He is called the last great Italian composer.
He was a very determined man.
He traveled the world to make sure his works were done accordingly.
He hand chose people for his operas, his participation piquing public interest.
He came back with 'Manon Lescaut' after 'Edgar' failed and his career was threatened.
'Manon Lescaut' was his first great successful masterpiece.
He is compared to the last great Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi.
He owned several automobiles and motor crafts - things most people in his day did not have.
He communicated with Thomas Edison on a wireless phonograph.
He enjoyed early mechanics, hunting fowl, automobiles, opera realism and women.

Credit: Skunk Butt

http://www.amiannoying.com/view.aspx?ID=10228

E-mail Link to Friend | Report updates or corrections for this profile

For 2009, as of last week, Out of 271 Votes: 36.53% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 246 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 792 Votes: 43.69% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 1968 Votes: 41.92% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 773 Votes: 42.69% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 1134 Votes: 41.09% Annoying

• An Asteroid was Named in My Honor (Ranked: 4579)
• An Asteroid was Named in My Honor (Ranked: 8945)
• I Died in 1924 (Ranked: 65)
• I Have Diabetes
• I Have Throat Cancer
• I Inspired a Musical
• Look at Me, I'm Driving
• Merchant/Ivory Recasts
• Opera Singers and Composers
• Profiles 10001-10250 (Ranked: 10228)
• Skunk Butt/Rebecca's Profiles [Series 5]