Abstract
Edoardo Sonzogno’s highly publicized one-act opera competitions in the latter half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century are perhaps most notable for their mixed results. Despite prestigious juries comprised of the most respected musical experts of the day, the competitions were hit and miss in their efforts to unearth works that would stand the test of time. In the inaugural competition of 1883, Giacomo Puccini’s first opera, Le Villi,was inexplicably overlooked in favor of inferior works which have long since been forgotten.