User:Theshoveljockey/Germania

Germania is an operatic dramma lirico in a prologue, two acts, an intermezzo and an epilogue by Alberto Franchetti to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica. The opera premiered on March 11 1902 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.

Illica, known for penning the librettos for some of Giacomo Puccini's best loved operas, originally gave the libretto for Tosca to Franchetti after the latter had obtained the rights to the Victorien Sardou play on which it was based. However, after Puccini expressed interest in it, Franchetti relinquished his rights, and Illica gave the composer Germania instead.

Germania premiered under the baton of Arturo Toscanini and featured famed tenor Enrico Caruso in the role of the student Federico. The opera would go on to become Franchetti's most successful work.