PUCCINI, GIACOMO (ANTONIO DOMENICO MICHELE SECONDO MARIA)

born Dec. 22, 1858, Lucca, Tuscany died Nov. 29, 1924, Brussels, Belg. Italian composer, one of the greatest exponents of operatic realism, who virtually brought the history of Italian opera to an end. His mature operas include La Bohme (1896), Tosca (1900), Madama Butterfly (1904), and Turandot, left incomplete.