I wanted to introduce myself with, a work of small dimensions.

I appealed to several librettists, but none was willing to undertake the work without a guarantee of recompense.

Then came notice of the Sonzogno competition and I eagerly seized the opportunity to better my condition.

But my salary of 100 lire, to which nothing was added, except the fees from a few pianoforte lessons in Cerignola and two lessons in the Philharmonic Society of Canosa (a little town a few miles from Cerignola), did not permit the luxury of a libretto.

At the solicitation of some friends Targioni, in Leghorn, decided to write a "Cavalleria rusticana" for me.
My mind was long occupied with the finale.