Puccini: His Life and Music

Puccini is one of the most beloved of all opera composers - La Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot still play to packed opera houses the world over.

Generally snubbed by the critics, Puccini was a serial adulterer whose greatest passions were hunting, high-speed cars and boats.

Yet behind the macho image, he was a creative artist of profound sensitivity and dramatic flair.

This essential music companion provides a compelling overview of the constant tension between Puccini's indulgent personal life, his status as an international celebrity and his excruciatingly high standards as a composer. And with the words comes the music: 2 CDs of carefully chosen pieces spanning Puccini's compositional life.

Furthermore, the purchaser of the book is given access to a dedicated website which offers even more music to listen to, as well as other bonus material.