Music database
Musician
Luigi Illica
born on 9/5/1857 in Castell'Arquato, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
died on 16/12/1919 in Castell'Arquato, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Luigi Illica
Luigi Illica (9 May 1857 16 December 1919) was an Italian librettist who wrote for Giacomo Puccini (usually with Giuseppe Giacosa), Alfredo Catalani, Umberto Giordano, Baron Alberto Franchetti and other important Italian composers. His most famous opera librettos are those for La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Andrea Chénier.
Illica was born at Castell'Arquato. His personal life sometimes imitated his libretti. The reason he is always photographed with his head slightly turned is because he lost his right ear in a duel over a woman. When silent films based on Illica's operas were made, his name appeared in large letters on advertisements because distributors could only guarantee that his stories would be used, and not that they would be accompanied by the music of the appropriate composer.
As a playwright of considerable quality, he is today remembered through one of Italy's oldest awards, the Luigi Illica International Prize founded in 1961, which goes to world famous opera singers, opera conductors, directors and authors. The Award is now awarded every two years and alternates with the Illica Opera Stage International Competition, which offers prizes and debut opportunities to young singers.
Librettos
The dates given are those of creations.
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Notes
- with Francesco Pozza
- with Ruggero Leoncavallo, Marco Praga, Giuseppe Giacosa and Domenico Oliva
- 3.0 3.1 3.2 with Giuseppe Giacosa
- with E. Romagnoli
External links
- Works by Luigi Illica at Project Gutenberg
This article uses material from the article Luigi Illica from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.