Special Sub-Topic: Puccini, His Life And Work Click Here To Play: Puccini, His Life And Work

Puccini was of course born in Italy, but what town was he born in?

Lucca & lucca. Lucca is a walled city in Tuscany, a short distance from Pisa.

Puccini was born in 1858, on what date was he born?

December 22.

We know him mainly as Giacomo Puccini, but he has no less than 5 middle names. Out of the folowing choices pick the one which is among the 5 in his name.

Michele. His full name is Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini. Michele (mee-KEH-leh) Was his fathers name, Domenico his grandfathers, Domenico his great-grandfathers and so on...

In 1880, aided with a grant from the Queen, Puccini went to the Milan Conservatory where he studied composition with whom?

Ponchielli. His father was a musician but died when Giacomo was around 6 years old.

His teacher urged Puccini to write a one act opera for submission in a competition for the music publisher Sonzogno, the result was Le Villi. What one act opera won the competition?

Cavalleria Rusticana. Mascagni was also a student of Ponchielli's for a time at the Milan Conservatory.

All of the following are operas of Puccini except which?

Manon. Puccini's Manon Lescaut was actually the third opera based on the novel of the same name by Prevost. Massenet's 'Manon' was the second.

Puccini wrote many wonderful and powerful arias for women, but one of his most famous he grew to dislike. What was it?

Vissi D'arte. Puccini felt Tosca's aria interrupted the drama of the second act.

When Puccini heard this singer audition for him his reaction was 'Who sent you to me, God?' Who is this singer?

Enrico Caruso. Caruso's powerful voice complemented Puccini's writing very well.

Puccini died before he finished writing Turandot, arguably his greatest masterpiece. Who completed the writting of Turandot?

Franco Alfano. Alfano was an opera composer himself, but is mainly known for finishing Turandot from Puccini's sketches.

Puccini died in Brussels on November 29, 1924. What did he die of?

throat cancer. He died after surgery for throat cancer. His voice was always rough and husky. The man who wrote so many beautiful songs was nicknamed 'Brutta voce' (ugly voice).