Giacomo Puccini

Description

With works such as La Bohème and Madame Butterfly Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) created some of the world’s most popular and widely performed operas. His colourful orchestrations, beautiful melodies, rare theatrical sensibility and often daring choices of subject matter combined to produce timeless stage works that continue to appeal to a broad audience. In this powerful biography, Conrad Wilson examines this great composer’s works and the ways in which they were influenced by his many relationships with women and his contradictory personality.

Conrad Wilson was music critic for the Scotsman from 1963 to 1991, and now writes for the Herald. Author of several publications, including a history of Scottish Opera, he was for many years Programme Editor of the Edinburgh Festival.

“Fascinating and fastidiously researched. A fine book, both emotionally profound and waspishly witty.”—The Scotsman

“A sizzling new biography.”—Herald

“Thoroughly readable and quietly perceptive.”—Guardian

On the 20th Century Composers Series

“As a series, Phaidon’s 20th Century Composers has brought remarkable variety and a welter of information, both necessary and delightfully trivial. Intended both for the general reader and for the more enthusiastically musical.”—The Scotsman