Giacomo Puccini was one of the most romantic composers of all time, born in the picturesque Tuscan town of Lucca. He was bewitched by the charms of nearby Lake Massaciuccoli. In 1898, he bought a house at Torre del Lago, overlooking his beloved lake, where he composed operas like Madame Butterfly, Tosca, and La bohème. During the summer months, Torre del Lago pays homage to its great maestro with the Festival Puccini, a season of open-air operas, staged by the lakeside.
This year, to mark the 150th anniversary since the composer’s birth, the festival took place at a brand new open-air theatre.
First broadcast 16th July 2008