Puccini belongs to the most important italian composers of operas. At the age of 17, he composed his first piece - something for organ. However, after seeing Verdis "Aida" he was so impressed, that he promised to write just operas. From 1880 - 83 Puccini studied at the conservatory of Milano and took part in an opera competition in 1884. But his composition "Le Villi" wasn´t noticed by the jury. In spite of this the piece was performed successfully at the Milano Teatro dal Verme. With his opera "Manon Lescaut" he made it finally. The perfomance of "La fanciulla del West" at the NY Met in 1910 brought him the necessary honor. His last opera "Turandot" couldn´t be finished, Giacomo Puccini died during the work on November 27th 1924 because of a cancer desease.