Ruggero Leoncavallo

An Italian composer who wrote his own librettos, remembered above all for PagliacciGirardi, M. (1992) 'Leoncavallo, Ruggero [Ruggiero]', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 2, pp. 1148-1149.Wikipedia (2026) Ruggero Leoncavallo. (Accessed: 22 September 2026).. He studied at the Naples ConservatoryGirardi, M. (1992) 'Leoncavallo, Ruggero [Ruggiero]', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 2, pp. 1148-1149.Wikipedia (2026) Ruggero Leoncavallo. (Accessed: 22 September 2026)., then worked as a pianist in EgyptWikipedia (2026) Ruggero Leoncavallo. (Accessed: 22 September 2026). until the war of 1882 sent him to Paris, where he played in cafés-concerts and gave lessonsGirardi, M. (1992) 'Leoncavallo, Ruggero [Ruggiero]', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 2, pp. 1148-1149.Wikipedia (2026) Ruggero Leoncavallo. (Accessed: 22 September 2026).. Back in Milan he had a hand in the libretto of Puccini's Manon LescautGirardi, M. (1992) 'Leoncavallo, Ruggero [Ruggiero]', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 2, pp. 1148-1149.Wikipedia (2026) Ruggero Leoncavallo. (Accessed: 22 September 2026).. Pagliacci triumphed at the Teatro Dal Verme in 1892Girardi, M. (1992) 'Leoncavallo, Ruggero [Ruggiero]', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 2, pp. 1148-1149.Wikipedia (2026) Ruggero Leoncavallo. (Accessed: 22 September 2026).. His La bohème of 1897 lost out to Puccini'sGirardi, M. (1992) 'Leoncavallo, Ruggero [Ruggiero]', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 2, pp. 1148-1149.Wikipedia (2026) Ruggero Leoncavallo. (Accessed: 22 September 2026)., but Zazà was an international successGirardi, M. (1992) 'Leoncavallo, Ruggero [Ruggiero]', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 2, pp. 1148-1149.. Wilhelm II commissioned Der Roland von Berlin from himGirardi, M. (1992) 'Leoncavallo, Ruggero [Ruggiero]', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 2, pp. 1148-1149., and his last years went mostly to operettaGirardi, M. (1992) 'Leoncavallo, Ruggero [Ruggiero]', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 2, pp. 1148-1149..