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In July 1883 he received his diploma and presented his graduation composition Capriccio sinfonico. In the same year he entered Le villi in a competition for one-act operas. The judges didn't think La villi was worthy of much consideration, but a group of friends subsidized its production, and its premiere took place in Milan's Verme Theatre. La villi was a great success and music publisher Giulio Ricordi acquired the copyright and requested that the opera be expanded into two acts. He also commissioned Puccini to write for La Scala and gave him a monthly stipend. When Puccini's mother died he fled Lucca with a married woman. They lived in Monza, near Milan, where their son was born. Their illegal union caused a great scandal and attracted much attention since Elvira was already married and had a daughter. In 1890 they moved to Milan, and then to Torre del Lago. He remained there until three years before his death when he moved to Viareggio. Elvira proved to be difficult to live with. They were finally married in 1904, after the death of her first husband (Sartori, par. 3).
Edgar was Puccini's second opera and his first to fail. Ricordi didn't give up on Puccini and continued to back him in his next attempt. In 1893 Puccini's first production of Manon Lescaut was staged in Turin. It was a great success and was also staged in St. Petersburg, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Munich before the year was out. With one opera Puccini was now able to live in his chosen village of Torre del Lago in some style. He was also able to repay his debts to Ricordi ("Classical" par. 5). His next three operas became pretty well known. La boheme, Tosca and Madama Butterfly were all considered successful. After these the public had to wait almost seven years for his next opera in 1907. In 1909 his now wife, Elvira, accused their maid, Doria, of having an affair with Puccini. Doria committed suicide and Elvira was sentenced to five months in prison.
Hwang effectively uses the opera Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini as a framework to mold the main character, Rene Gallimard. ... Obviously Gallimard is not happy with himself or his life so he goes in search for his Butterfly or more importantly a new identity. ... When Song reveals her true gender Gallimard confesses I knew all the time somewhere that my happiness was temporary, my love a deception. ...