Opera in three acts to a libretto by Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini, from the play The Girl of the Golden West by David Belasco. First performance: New York, Metropolitan Opera House, 10 December, 1910.

Puccini, in New York to attend a kind of Puccini Festival at the Metropolitan Opera House, in January 1907 saw the performance of the play by Belasco “The Girl of the Golden West” and remained very impressed. Back in Italy, he began to think about writing a work on that subject. Casa Ricordi, having acquired the rights, appointed Carlo Zangarini to write the libretto (he was later to be joined by Guelfo Civinini). Puccini, as well as actively defining the dramaturgy and writing the poetry, trying to get original American music, began to compose at the end of 1907. Then from Autumn 1908 the composition underwent a long break, due to the tragic suicide of Doria Manfredi, maid in Puccini’s house, and the consequent impact on the family life of the composer. The work was completed in July 1910.

La fanciulla del West opens a new practice: the world premiere takes place abroad, in the country consistent with the subject of the play, and also far from the Teatro alla Scala, which had so badly welcomed his previous work, Madama Butterfly. It was a great success, certainly helped by the impressive promotional strategy implemented by the Metropolitan Opera House and by Ricordi of New York. Criticism was somewhat divided, and basically the important new elements in the score were not appreciated. La fanciulla del West will be very rarely performed as a result, also considering the inherent difficulties that staging requires.