Illica Luigi, *9 May 1857 Castell’ Arquato (near Piacenza), † 16 December 1919 Colombarone, Italian playwright, librettist and journalist. After running away from home and travelling for several years, he settled in Milan around 1879, where he took up a job as a journalist at the “Corriere della Sera”. In 1881, he founded his own periodical, “Don Chiscolotte”, in Bologna. He published his first collection of short stories, Farfalle, effetti di luce, in Milan in 1882, and a year later, together with F. Fontana, he staged his first play. However, it was his work as a librettist that brought him the greatest recognition (from 1892 he was associated with the Ricordi publishing house in Milan). Over a period of about 30 years, he wrote (initially in collaboration with other writers) around 80 opera librettos, including works for composers such as: A. Catalani (La Wally, after W. von Hillern, 1890, premiered 1892), A. Franchetti (Cristoforo Colombo, premiered 1892, Germania, premiered 1902), U. Giordano (Andrea Chénier, premiered 1896, Siberia, premiered 1903, 2nd version 1921, premiered 1927), V. Gnecchi (Cassandra, premiered 1905, Giuditta, premiered 1953), P. Mascagni (Iris, premiered 1898, Isabeau, premiered 1911), I. Montemezzi (Hellera, premiered 1909), S. Samaras (La martire, premiered 1894), A. Smareglia (Il vassallo di Szigeth, libretto with F. Pozza, premiered 1889). His literary collaboration with G. Giacosa resulted in three librettos, which were used by G. Puccini (La bohème after H. Murger, premiered 1896, Tosca after V. Sardou, premiered 1900, and Madama Butterfly after D. Belasco, premiered 1904).
By infusing his librettos with intense dramatic tension, historical authenticity and situational realism, Illica made a significant contribution to the development of a new musical movement known as verismo at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Literature: G. Adami G. Ricordi e i suoi musicisti, Milan 1933; Il carteggio Puccini–Illica–Ricordi, ed. E. Gara in Carteggi pucciniani, Milan 1958; M. Morini L. Illica, Piacenza 1961; M. Morini Illica e Mascagni nell’esperienza dell’ “Iris”, “Música d’Oggi” VI (new series), 1963.
