Ruggiero Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci was his first opera to be performed. The text by the composer is based on one of the cases encountered by Leoncavallo's father a police magistrate in Naples. The actual case concerned amiddle-aged actor who murdered his unfaithful wife. Leoncavallo sets his sordid subject matter to melodic material of high quality and great variety. The heart-rending aria 'Ridi Pagliaccio sul tuo amore infranto!' (Laugh and bemerry though your love betrayed you) has become the most famous number from the opera.
