"Puccini's Bohème reached the stage for the first time in February 1st, 1896 at Teatro Regio, in Turin, conducted by Arturo Toscanini. The one by [Ruggero] Leoncavallo premiered in May 6th, 1897, at Teatro La Fenice, in Venice. Although, in the beginning, the critics' reception for the creation of 'I Pagliacci''s author (among other reasons, because of its higher fidelity to Murger's original text) have being even more favorable than the one of his competitor, posterity would be ruthless, reserving space for only one Bohème -- the one by Puccini." (Perpetuo)