Ruggero Leoncavallo

Puccinis „La Bohème“ kam 1896 auf die Bühne, Leoncavallos gleichnamiges Werk erst über ein Jahr später. Puccinis „Bohème“ eroberte bald die Opernhäuser dieser Welt. Leoncavallos Werk hatte gegen diese Erfolgsoper nie eine wirkliche Chance. Dabei gilt das Libretto zu Leoncavallos „Bohème“ als das interessantere und kritischere. Leoncavallo, der auch Librettist war, hatte den Konkurrenten sogar noch selbst auf den Stoff, den Episodenroman „Scènes de la vie de bohème“ Henri Murgers, aufmerksam gemacht, ihm einen Librettoentwurf zur Vertonung angeboten. Puccini zeigte zunächst kein Interesse an Murgers Milieustudie, besann sich dann aber eines besseren und beauftragte seine Hauslibrettisten mit einer Bühnenfassung des Romans – natürlich ohne Leoncavallo darüber zu informieren. Der hatte längst selbst mit der Vertonung des Stoffes begonnen. Der italienischer Komponist und Librettist Leoncavollo wurde weltbekannt durch seine Oper Pagliacci (Der Bajazzo)..

their shells. They shout: ,No! We will never dare to strike you, except with a munch!’ This generous gesture on the part of the Marquis of Ajeta will be registered in the Golden Book, and the greatful people will shout hosanna! We hope that Madam, la Marquise, is feeling better and that tomorrow, under the spring sun, (I am speaking about tomorrow because the sun today is hidden), we will meet there in front of the dark place where the paintings of Beautiful Apollo, The Prostitute, The Gaunt Velia, and the Child measuring one meter ninety reside. My women slaves send you their best. Yours, Leoncavallo. My little she-dog is really of superior intelligence. She licked all the dishes where the portions of cassata were served.“ The tone of the letter is in stark contrast to the reality of war. The American entry into World War I, which Leoncavallo refers to in his letter, came on April 6, 1917, the unrestricted submarine warfare was first introduced in early 1915. Ruggero Leoncavallo, who came to fame with the opera Pagliacci, which represented a reaction against Richard Wagner and against Romantic Italian opera. It substituted for the quasi-historical plot a sensational story from everyday life. Pagliacci was composed in the verismo, or realistic, style of Mascagni. Produced in Milan in 1892, it was an immediate success. Leoncavallo’s La Bohème (1897) suffered from comparison with Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème. Zazà (1900) was more successful, but Der Roland (1904), commissioned by Wilhelm II to glorify the Hohenzollerns, was a failure. A number of later works achieved passing success. For most of his operas Leoncavallo was his own librettist and showed a distinct literary ability and a flair for theatrical effect..