Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (December 22, 1858 - November 29, 1924) was an Italian composer. His career extended from the end of the Romantic period into the modern period. He consciously attempted to update his style to keep pace with new trends, but did not fully adopt a modern style. While his early work was rooted in traditional 19th century romantic Italian opera, he successfully developed his work in the realistic verismo style, of which he became one of the leading exponents. The style is distinguished by depictions of everyday life, especially the life of the contemporary lower classes. Both during his lifetime and in posterity, Puccini's success outstripped other Italian opera composers of his time, and he has been matched in this regard by only a handful of composers in the entire history of opera. A chain smoker of Toscano cigars and cigarettes, he began to complain of chronic sore throats towards the end of 1923. A diagnosis of throat cancer led his doctors to recommend an experimental radiation therapy treatment. He died in 1924, at the age of 65, from complications after the treatment. Credited to F.C. Bango or T.C. Bangs, dated 1907.