“Gianni Schicchi” is a comic opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini, the composer’s only work in this genre. Its plot is inspired by verses in Canto XXX of “Inferno” from Dante’s Divine Comedy. The libretto is by Giovacchino Forzano. The opera constitutes the final part of Puccini’s triptych, Il Trittico. The world premiere of the full cycle took place on 14 December 1918 on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Among the three works—Il Tabarro and Suor Angelica being the other two—Gianni Schicchi achieved the greatest acclaim and continues to be the most frequently staged.

Setting: Florence, 1299.

Buoso Donati lies on his deathbed. Around him gather his grieving relatives — grieving, at least in appearance — for in truth they are impatient to learn the contents of his will. Among them are his cousins Zita and Simone, his brother-in-law Betto, and Zita’s young nephew, Rinuccio. Betto recounts a rumor he has heard: that Buoso intends to leave his entire fortune to a monastery. Alarmed and deeply unsettled by this possibility, the relatives begin searching frantically for the document. It is Rinuccio who discovers the will. Convinced that his uncle will have provided generously for him, he urges Zita to allow him to marry Lauretta, daughter of Gianni Schicchi, who has recently arrived in Florence. Zita replies that if the family becomes wealthy, he may marry whomever he wishes. The relatives impatiently press for the will to be read. Overjoyed, Rinuccio dispatches little Gherardino to fetch Schicchi and Lauretta.

When the will is read, the relatives’ fears are confirmed: Buoso has indeed bequeathed everything to the monastery. Outrage erupts. The family turns to Simone, the eldest and former mayor of Fucecchio, yet even he can offer no remedy. Rinuccio insists that only Schicchi can rescue them, but the others reject the notion outright. Zita and the rest mock Schicchi’s humble origins, declaring any union between Rinuccio and the daughter of a mere peasant utterly impossible. Rinuccio defends Schicchi (“Avete torto” – “You are mistaken”). At that moment, Lauretta arrives with her father. Schicchi quickly grasps the situation. Rinuccio pleads for his help, but Zita brusquely orders Schicchi and his daughter to leave at once. Enraged, Schicchi retorts that he wants nothing further to do with such people. Yet Lauretta implores him (“O mio babbino caro”), and he agrees to examine the will. Having first declared that nothing can be done, he reverses himself moments later, and sends his daughter away so that she will not witness what is to follow.

Schicchi demands assurance that no one outside the room is aware of Buoso’s death. He then orders that the body be moved to another chamber. A knock at the door announces the arrival of Doctor Spinellocchio. Schicchi conceals himself behind the bed curtains and, imitating Buoso’s voice, declares that he is feeling much improved. The doctor praises the efficacy of his own treatments and departs, thoroughly satisfied. Elated with this success, Schicchi reveals his stratagem (“Si corre dal notaro” – “We rush to the notary”): he will disguise himself as Buoso and dictate a new will. A wave of delight sweeps through the household, and the relatives begin eagerly naming the possessions they each covet—above all, Buoso’s prized mule, his house, and the mills at Signa. A funeral bell tolls, prompting panic that news of Buoso’s death has already spread. It proves to be a false alarm. The family agrees to entrust the distribution of the property to Schicchi, while each attempts to bribe him privately. The women assist him in dressing as Buoso (“Spogliati, bambolino” – “Undress, my beloved puppet”). Before lying down in the bed, Schicchi sternly reminds them of the penalty for falsifying a will—and for aiding in such fraud: the severing of the offending hand.

The notary arrives, and Schicchi begins dictating the document. To the relatives’ horror, he bequeaths the mule, the house, and the mills at Signa to “my good friend Gianni Schicchi.” Stunned, they dare not protest, constrained by the notary’s presence. Schicchi subtly gestures, reminding them of the punishment for contesting the fraud. After the notary departs, their outrage erupts; yet their fury stands in stark contrast to the love duet unfolding between Lauretta and Rinuccio. Their union is now possible, for Schicchi can provide a proper dowry. He drives the rest of the family from the house—now legally his. Moved by the sight of the young couple, Schicchi turns to the audience, imploring them to agree that no better use could have been made of Buoso’s fortune.