In 1909, Edoardo, still a bachelor and with no children of his own, passes on the management of the Publishing House to his nephews, LORENZO and RICCARDO SONZOGNO, who extend the catalogue still further with new works by the Verism composers – among which are La Rondine and Inno a Roma by Puccini – and with Fedra, by a young Pizzetti, featuring the libretto by D’Annunzio. Moreover, Lorenzo proves himself to be a pioneer in the opera film sector, establishing a competent film production company: Musical Film. The book sector, the newspapers and Teatro Lirico are transferred. All the members of the Sonzogno family pass away between 1915 and 1920. The heirs entrust a board of directors with the management, but the financial situation of the firm deteriorates, with the chances of being transferred to a foreign group.
