Dance-opera in one act and two scenes to a libretto by Ferdinando Fontana from Les Willis by Alphonse Karr. First performance: Milan, Teatro Dal Verme, 31 May 1884.
Another version in two acts.

Puccini wrote his first theatrical play shortly after receiving his diploma in composition at the Milan Conservatory, the intention being to take part in the competition organized by the publisher Sonzogno for an opera in one act. Amilcare Ponchielli his teacher put him in touch with the poet Ferdinando Fontana in July 1883 and the libretto was presented in September. Puccini delivered the autograph score on 31 December, the last possible day.

The competition commission, chaired by Amilcare Ponchielli, announced the results at the beginning of April 1884: the first prize was awarded jointly to La fata del Nord by Guglielmo Zuelli and Anna e Gualberto by Luigi Mapelli, the work of Puccini was not even deemed worthy of mention. A resounding misjudgment? Or, as had been argued in the past, the autograph score by Puccini was unreadable? The commission, chaired by Ponchielli, also included Franco Faccio, who had directed the world premiere of the Capriccio sinfonico (July 1883), and the autograph score was not unreadable, in particular for his own teacher.

More recently it has been suggested that Puccini’s failure to win was the result of a plot organised by the publisher Giulio Ricordi, with the complicity of Ponchielli and Faccio, to avert the danger that the young composer might become part of the team of the publisher Sonzogno. Immediately after hearing the negative outcome of the contest, Fontana took steps to ensure that Puccini could have his work heard: the audition took place in the parlour of the journalist Marco Sala, in the presence, among others, of Arrigo Boito, Giovannina Lucca and Alfredo Catalani. With a timely subscription, Le Villi was staged at the Teatro Dal Verme on 31 May, 1884, achieving great success. Critics hailed the theatrical debut of Puccini with enthusiasm.