Turandot Puccini's publisher Tito Ricordi II decided on Alfano because his opera "La leggenda di Sakùntala" resembled "Turandot" in its setting and heavy orchestration. Alfano provided a first version of the ending with a few passages of his own, and even a few sentences added to the libretto which was not considered complete even by Puccini himself. After the severe criticisms by Ricordi and the conductor Arturo Toscanini, he was forced to write a second, strictly censored version that followed Puccini's sketches more closely, to the point where he did not set some of Adami's text to music because Puccini had
Enrico Alfano had become the head of the Camorra after the death of the legendary "capintesta" (head-in-chief) Ciccio Cappuccio in 1892, although other sources disagree over his rise to power. According to a "New York Times" report on the Cuocolo trial in 1911, Alfano was below medium height but a man of commanding presence; across his cheek he bore a long scar, the "sfregio" (a knife slash for dishonour; a sign of Camorra punishment). "The New York Times" reported that he was arrested many times as an accomplice in homicide, robbery and less important charges, but had never been convicted. According to