Puccini is the most beloved composer of opera in the world: one quarter of all opera performances in the U.S. are of his operas, his music pervades movie soundtracks, and his plots have infiltrated our popular culture. But, although Puccini's art still captivates audiences and the popularity of such works as Tosca, La Boh me, and Madama Butterfly has never waned, he has long been a victim of critical snobbery and cultural marginalization. In...