Portrait of the composer Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) is the heir to the great era of Italian opera.  His link
with Milan had always been strong, as he had studied at the Conservatoire there. He had three world premières at La Scala: Edgar, Madame Butterfly
(without success) and Turandot (after his death). The Theatre had another disappointment in store for him. On 29th April 1924, a few months before his death, Toscanini refused him admittance to the dress rehearsal for Boito’s Nero due to some slight, even though they were good friends and he had conducted four of his operas as world premières.