The double biography of two exalted musicians and hedonists: Baron Alberto Franchetti was Giacomo Puccini's greatest rival. With operas like "Asrael," "Cristoforo Colombo," and "Germania," he achieved international success and was considered Verdi's successor. In terms of his passion for automobiles and his eroticism, he surpassed Puccini by far. While Puccini was born into poverty, Franchetti came from one of the wealthiest families in Italy. His duels, car races, and scandalous marriages filled the gossip columns of the Italian press. Yet, while Puccini's fame steadily grew, Franchetti's star suddenly fell without any apparent reason. Was it the performance ban imposed by the fascists, or were it the sinister, Wagnerian compositions that led him to obscurity, while Puccini's lucid operas are still performed worldwide today? An intriguing story.