GIACOSA, GIUSEPPE ( b. Colleretto Parella, Italy 21 Oct 1847; d. Colleretto Parella, 62 Sept 1906 )
Giacosa wrote both plays and libretti. He is recognised as a major representative of verismo, the naturalistic school of opera that flourished in Italy in the later part of the nineteenth century.
Having practiced law, he made a full-time career of writing. He also held the position of professor of drama at the Verdi Conservatory.
Working with the dramatist Luigi Illica, he provided versification for three of Puccini's most admired operas, La Boheme, (1896), Tosca (1900) and Madama Butterfly (1904).
