Baltimore Opera Company

Study Guide

Madama Butterfly

Giuseppe Giacosa

Born in Colleretto Parella (near Turin) on 21 October 1847, Giacosa was brought up in a well-to-do family, with his father being a respected Piedmontese lawyer. The young scion was expected to follow in his father's footsteps, and did so, taking a degree in law at the University of Turin and opening a practice there. However, after having fulfilled his family obligation, he soon turned to his real love, play writing, and after achieving a modicum of theatrical success, was given a teaching position at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Turin.

Basically known as a dramatist and critic, his career as an opera librettist was short but significant. Through his friendship with the music publisher Giulio Ricordi he made acquaintance with Puccini, who asked him to help with the writing of the text for Manon Lescaut. He demurred, but suggested Luigi Illica, who had a tremendous success. Illica, ever mindful of this assistance from the older and more cerebral Giacosa, asked him to collaborate on the next Puccini opera, La Bohème, and continued with their work on Tosca and Madama Butterfly. Their modus operandi was to have Illica write the structure and first draft of the libretto, and Giacosa would work on refining the tone and versification. This system suited both of their personalities, with Illica being the more rash, histrionic character, and Giacosa coming from a more refined, academic background. Certainly, their extremes of character frequently led to artistic clashes, but both Ricordi and Puccini served as moderators for any feuds that would come along. The legendary team of Illica and Giacosa would undoubtedly have continued were it not for Giacosa's death on 2 September, 1906 in his hometown of Collereto Parella.

James Harp

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