Puccini was was one of the composers that got me into Opera: I remember taking home a recording of "Turandot" with Pavarotti and once I heard him sing the aria that was his signature tune "Nessun dorma" I ws hooked! If you have not heard of Giacomo Puccini or his operas, check theses out: 1-Turandot (his last unfinished but still great Opera); get either the Birgit Nilsson version or Pavarotti. 2- Tosca ( another Opera with a tragic ending of two lovers( the lustful villain, Baron Scarpia, is the Italian Darth Vader of Opera besides Iago in Verdi's Otello, obviously); I recommend either Maria Callas' 1957 version 3- Madama Butterfly (a tragic love story set in Japan about honor and betrayal) Domingo and Freni's version is excellent 4-La Boheme (simply one of the greatest operas ever written) Pavarotti and Freni is my favorite 5-Il Trittico ( a trilogy of one act operas fashioned after Dante's Divine Comedy even though they have modern settings so do yourself a favor and check out the music of one of the greatest melodists of all time! Happy Birthday Maestro Puccini!:) BKT