Schicchi

Schicchi is a fictional character in Giacomo Puccini's one-act opera Gianni Schicchi (1918). The opera is the final work of Puccini's Il Trittico, a trio of operas presented together. The libretto, by Giovacchino Forzano, sets the action in Florence in the late 13th or early 14th century and concerns the will of Buoso Donati after his death.

Gianni Schicchi is a clever impostor who impersonates Buoso's late father to influence the reading of the will. By disguising himself and manipulating a notary, he arranges a revised will that leaves Buoso's fortune to Lauretta, the young woman loved by Rinuccio, and to the schemer's chosen heirs. The deception drives the plot and culminates in a humorous ending as the characters react to the change in fortune.

Musically, Gianni Schicchi is written for baritone, with the other principal roles including Lauretta (soprano) and Rinuccio (tenor). The score is noted for its light, satirical tone, and it contains the well-known aria "O mio babbino caro" sung by Lauretta.

The opera premiered in 1918 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as part of Il Trittico and remains a staple of Puccini's repertoire. The character of Schicchi has become a byword for clever trickery in opera and literature, and the work is frequently staged as a compact introduction to Puccini's mature style.