Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari was a composer whose operas were played all over the world before World War I. He is considered an innovator of the Opera Buffa genre and was influenced by Mozart, Rossini, and Donizetti. Although he composed in an archaic style, he enriched the genre with early twentieth-century features. He stuck to the motto of writing for the listeners, not for music history. From his thirteen operas, the eight comic ones remain his best. He had a mixed nationality of German-Italian descent, and he was also talented in photography, painting, and writing aphorisms and dissertations. His contact with Verdi and Boito led to his first opera, "La Cenerentola". Though he was celebrated all over the world, he faced personal struggles and little success during World War II. His grave on San Michele is hard to find.
