Alberto Franchetti

Full biography Alberto Franchetti

Alberto Franchetti was an Italian composer who was born on September 18, 1860, and died on August 4, 1942. He is best known for his 1902 opera Germania, which was inspired by a libretto written by Luigi Illica and presented at La Scala in Milan. Franchetti was also known for his other operas, including Cristoforo Colombo, which premiered in Genoa in 1892, and Asrael, which premiered in Turin in 1888.

While Franchetti was known for his opera compositions, he also had other interests, including fast cars, which he often pursued in his free time. He was considered a serious rival to the famous composer Giacomo Puccini at the turn of the 20th century. He studied in Turin and Venice before pursuing his career as a composer. He was the son of a baron who owned the estate of Cavazzone di Montecchio Emilia, which is now known as the Agriturismo Cavazzone.

Franchetti's Asrael is often cited as one of his most notable works. It was the first opera he composed and was presented entirely by his father, Ferdinando Fontana. Additionally, Franchetti was selected by Giuseppe Verdi to compose the score for the libretto of Illica after a competition was held to find a librettist.

Franchetti had a son named Arnold Franchetti, who also became a composer and music professor. Today, Alberto Franchetti is remembered for his contributions to Italian opera and his influence on the music of his time.