Knowra Giuseppe Giacosa Giuseppe Giacosa Giuseppe Giacosa (1847–1906) was an Italian playwright, poet, and librettist. With Luigi Illica, he wrote the librettos for three major operas by Giacomo Puccini.
La bohème : An opera by Giacomo Puccini, first performed in 1896, about young artists living in Paris. Giacosa and Luigi Illica adapted Henri Murger’s scenes of bohemian life into its libretto.
Luigi Illica : An Italian playwright and librettist who collaborated with Giacosa on operas by Puccini. Illica and Giacosa divided the adaptation and versification work on their shared librettos.
Italian theatre : The theatrical traditions and institutions developed in Italy, including spoken drama and opera. Giacosa established his reputation as a playwright before becoming known for opera librettos.
Giuseppe Adami : An Italian playwright and librettist who wrote librettos for Puccini and other composers. Adami belonged to the next generation of Puccini librettists after Giacosa.
Tosca : An opera by Giacomo Puccini, first performed in 1900, set in Rome during the Napoleonic Wars. Giacosa and Luigi Illica shaped Victorien Sardou’s play into its libretto.
Libretto : The text written or adapted for a musical work, especially an opera. Giacosa’s literary work for Puccini took the form of librettos.
Turin : A city in northwestern Italy and the capital of the Piedmont region. Giacosa was born near Turin and became closely associated with the region’s literary life.
Renato Simoni : An Italian journalist, playwright, and librettist who helped write Turandot. Simoni’s collaboration on Turandot offers a later counterpart to Giacosa’s work with Illica.
Madama Butterfly : An opera by Giacomo Puccini, first performed in 1904, about a Japanese woman abandoned by her American husband. Giacosa and Luigi Illica developed its libretto from David Belasco’s play.
Dramaturgy : The principles and practice of shaping dramatic works for performance. Giacosa’s experience as a playwright informed the pacing and structure of his opera texts.
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