"My name is Ruggero (or Ruggiero) Leoncavallo (UK: /ˌleɪɒnkæˈvæloʊ/ LAY-on-kav-AL-oh,[4] US: /ˌleɪoʊnkəˈvɑːloʊ, -kɑːˈ-/ LAY-ohn-kə-VAH-loh, -⁠kah-,[5][6] Italian: [rudˈdʒɛːro leˌoŋkaˈvallo]; 23 April 1857 – 9 August 1919). I was an Italian opera composer and librettist. Throughout my career, I produced numerous operas and songs but it is in1892 opera Pagliacci that remained my lasting contribution, despite attempts to escape the shadow of my greatest success."