After WWII, excepting Benjamin Britten, only one opera composer has had wide success. Italian-American Gian Carlo Menotti never had the musical importance of the British composer, but in many of his works he had the knack to communicate with his audience.

Of course, he was a tonal composer; Italianate melodies came easily to him. And he never tried to be avant-garde; as happened with Nino Rota, with whom he shared some similarities, they didn't change the history of music but brought to stage works with an attractive blend of intelligent libretti and music that had no problems of access.

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