Luigi Illica

Luigi Illica was the most sought-after dramatic constructor of his generation, a journalist before the theatre took him. His gift was for shaping an action rather than polishing verse, which is why his best-known work pairs him with a poet. So many hands worked Puccini's Manon Lescaut that its libretto went out unattributed; from 1894 he was paired with Giuseppe Giacosa, and the two gave Puccini La bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly. Alone he wrote Andrea Chénier for Giordano and La Wally for Catalani. He lost his right ear in a duel, and is always photographed with his head turned.