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Italian opera composer renowned for his emotionally intense and melodically rich works that dominate late 19th and early 20th-century repertoire. Born into a musical dynasty in Lucca, Puccini studied at Milan Conservatory. His operas, including 'La Bohème', 'Tosca', and 'Madama Butterfly', pioneered verismo style. Despite personal scandals, he achieved global fame. Died in Brussels during throat cancer treatment, leaving 'Turandot' unfinished.

• Puccini's wife, Elvira, falsely accused their maid Doria Manfredi of an affair with him in 1909. The maid committed suicide; an autopsy proved her virginity, leading to a lawsuit where Elvira was found guilty of slander.
• He nearly died in a 1903 car accident when his driver lost control; his son Antonio survived, but Puccini suffered a leg fracture and prolonged recovery.
• His final opera, 'Turandot', remained incomplete at his death. Franco Alfano finished it based on Puccini's sketches, though Arturo Toscanini famously halted its premiere performance where Puccini's work ended.
• Puccini died in 1924 from complications of experimental radiation therapy for throat cancer in Brussels. His heart is buried in his villa at Torre del Lago.