ILLICA, LUIGI (b. Piacenza, Italy, 9 May 1857; d. Piacenza, 16 Dec. 1919)
Illica was both a playwright and a librettist. He collaborated on some 80 libretti and was associated with the leading Italian composers of his day.
His own work reveals French influence. Plots tend to centre round strong love elements, portrayed in naturalistic settings against historically accurate social or political backgrounds. His texts are complemented by detailed stage directions, a practice that was common in France, but unusual in the Italian opera of his time.
Illica's first libretto was written in 1889, for the composer Smareglia's Il cassallo di Szigeth. Subsequent works include La Wally for Catalani (1892) and Andrea Chenier, for Giordano, (1896).
He is best remembered for his collaboration with Giuseppe Giacosa on Puccini's La Bohème (1896), Tosca, (1900), and Madama Butterfly (1904). His first collaboration with Puccini was on Manon Lescaut (1893).
Puccini described Illica as having ΓÇ£plenty of imaginationΓÇ¥. Though less of a poet than his colleague, Giacosa, he was particularly inventive in producing strong characterisation and situations.
