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Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), composer

Born in Lucca (Tuscany, Italy), Puccini is one the world's greatest composers. He visited the United States twice. In 1907 the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera invited him to come and supervise the American premieres of two of his most famous works, Manon Lescaut and Madame Butterfly. The visit was a personal triumph for the composer. He returned in 1910 for the premiere of his American opera, La fanciulla del West. It turned to be as one of the greatest events in the Italian-American experience. The opera was conducted by Arturo Toscanini; among the cast were some of the most celebrated Italian-American singers such as Enrico Caruso and Pasquale Amato.