Giacomo Puccini - Composer

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was an Italian composer whose operas, including 'La Boheme', 'Tosca', 'Madame Butterfly', are among the most frequently performed.

Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he was descended from a long line of composers, stemming from the late-Baroque era.

Some of his arias, such as 'O Mio Babbino Caro' from 'Gianni Schicchi', 'Che gelida manina' from 'La Boheme', 'Nessun Dorma' from 'Turandot', have become part of pop culture.