Franco Alfano, born on March 8, 1875, in Posillipo, Naples, Italy, was an Italian composer and pianist. He studied piano under Alessandro Longo and composition at the Conservatory San Pietro a Majella in Naples. Alfano furthered his studies in Leipzig with Hans Sitt and Salomon Jadassohn. His first opera, Miranda, was completed in 1896, though it remained unpublished. In 1898, his opera La Fonte di Enschir premiered in Wrocław as Die Quelle von Enschir. Notable works include the operas Risurrezione (1904) and Cyrano de Bergerac (1936), which had its Italian premiere in Rome and French premiere in Paris. He is also known for completing Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot in 1926, following Puccini's death. Alfano served as the Director of several conservatories, including those in Bologna, Turin, and Pesaro. His other significant compositions include La Leggenda di Sakùntala (1921) and various symphonies and chamber works. Alfano died on October 27, 1954, in Sanremo.
