Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was one of history’s greatest operatic composers. Puccini came from a family that had held the maestro di capella position of the Cattedrale di San Martino in Lucca for over 120 years. While it was assumed that Giacomo would take his father Michele’s place in the position when the time came, Michele died when Giacomo was only six years old, and thus his nearly-guaranteed lifetime appointment was no longer his for the taking. Puccini went on to attend the Milan Conservatory, where he was dormmates with Pietro Mascagni. One can imagine the melodies coming from that room! It goes without saying, though, that the composer would then go on to write some of the best-loved operas in the entire classical canon: La bohème, Madama Butterfly, Il trittico (which is technically three operas meant to be performed together), the unfinished Turandot, and Tosca.