Classical Music / Composer's Datebook: April 23
Ruggero Leoncavallo's brief biography – his life and contribution to Italian opera, in particular, Italian verismo (realism) movement or style. Famous for opera Pagliacci. Contemporary of Puccini.
Leoncavallo's Early Years
Italian composer Ruggero (or Ruggiero) Leoncavallo was born in Naples on April 23, 1857 (note: other biographies say it's March 8, 1857). A son of a judge, Leoncavallo took the plot from one of his father's real cases and made it to a libretto of his famous opera Pagliacci.
Leoncavallo's: Adult Training and Early Career
He studied at the Naples Conservatory, completing with a diploma of maestro (master) at the age of 18. Some years later, he enrolled at bologna University, and studied literature. While striving to be recognized as a composer, Leoncavallo lived and made ends meet by teaching piano and singing, and working in cafés and cabarets as pianist.
Leoncavallo's Masterpiece, Opera Pagliacci
On May 21, 1892, Pagliacci was first performed in Milan. It brought Leoncavallo overnight success and recognition. The title Pagliacci ('Clowns') refers to a small group of traveling stage players or actors. The opera of Leoncavallo tells the audience about their lives – their relationships, loves, jealousies, which spills over into their stage roles and performance, which climaxes in murder.
Below, performance of opera PAGLIACCI (Leoncavallo) | Roberto Alagna - Inva Mula - Seng-Hyoun Ko - Orange 2009 (Full - Complete). YouTube, uploaded by RobertoAlagna_Official. Accessed April 23, 2023.
Highly suggested link:
Luciano Pavarotti - Vesti La Giubba - I Pagliacci ᴴᴰ. YouTube, uploaded by congodfather. Accessed April 23, 2023.
Leoncavallo's Other Operas
His succeeding operas didn't achieve as much success as Pagliacci. For instance, the success of Zaza, also produced in Milan, was short-lived.
Leoncavallo's version of La Boheme did not par Puccini's own version which was tremendous success.
Like Pietro Mascagni's in Cavalleria Rusticana, Leoncavallo also used the verismo (realistic) style portraying ordinary everyday people on stage in a realistic manner.
Leoncavallo Musical Legacy
Leoncavallo belonged to Puccini’s generation of Italian opera composers. His native Naples, with it's great opera houses, provided him an ideal atmosphere for musical inspiration in his growing years. He belongs to the Italian composers of late 19th-century who like Puccini and Mascagni contributed to Italian verismo (realism) movement, featuring stories of ordinary people rather than the traditional grand and noble themes. In a manner of a true Italian son, simple yet intense drama appealed to him. He died in Bagni di Montecatini, Tuscany, aged 62.
Leoncavallo was one of the first composers who took serious interest in gramophone recordings. Pagliacci was the first full-length opera to be recorded in Italy, himself conducting.
Ruggero Leoncavallo's popularity is due only to his opera Pagliacci, considered classic in the musical world. Any opera buff will recognize clown Canio's impassioned "Vesti la giubba." In this opera, Leoncavallo offers a brilliant, superb drama of gripping tension and powerful characters.
Operas by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Pagliacci (Clowns) 1892
I Medici (The Medici) 1893
La Bohème 1897
Zaza 1900
Der Roland van Berlin 1904
Maia 1910
Gli Zingari (Gypsies) 1912
Edipo Re (King Oedipus) 1920, was performed posthumously.
Image Credit:
Ruggero Leoncavallo. Wikipedia Commons / Public Domain
Resources:
Dictionary of composers and Their Music by Eric Gilder, Sphere Reference (1987)
Ruggero Leoncavallo. Wikipedia.
The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, Macmillan, edited by Stanley Sadie (1994)
