Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857-1919) is remembered primarily for his one-act opera Pagliacci which was based on a true story. He was also known for first setting La Bohème to music but this work was later eclipsed by Puccini’s version. The recording of Caruso singing the aria “Vesti la giubba” from Pagliacci was the first record in the world to sell a million copies. Ruggero Leoncavallo was also a literary figure and composer of operettas.
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