Umberto Giordano (1867-1948) wrote the four-act verismo opera ANDREA CHNIER in 1896, and it remains his best-known work. It premiered on March 28, 1896, at La Scala in Milan. Loosely based on the life of French poet Andrea Chnier, the libretto by Luigi Illica sets the story of love and class conflict with the French Revolution as a backdrop. Reprint edition.