Giacomo Puccini (20th-Century Composers) Book

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) is perhaps the worlds most popular opera composer. Renowned for his gift as a melodist he was also a new force in "musical drama". This work draws attention to the daring and extraordinary colouring of Puccini's music, countering the view held during his lifetime that he was a retrogressive who aimed to shock. The composer's many relationships with women were a significant influence on his music and he was one of the greatest creators of operatic heroines, commemorating them in music that played directly on the heartstrings. The contradictions within Puccini's personality - his revelry in an affluent lifestle and insecurities about his creative powers - are explored in this biography, which attempts to set the composer among the immortal greats. This text is part of the 20th-century composers series, examining composers in a biographical context, and offering a comprehensive study of key figures in the creation of 20th-century music. None of the books in the series presume a knowledge of specialized terms or musical notation. Each book in the series features a list of works, a bibliography, and a discography.