With Ruggiero Leoncavallo (1858–) it was different, for only after writing a number of operas did he produce a success in the world-famous _I Pagliacci_. He wrote the tragic story of these strolling players as well as the music, which is not as popular in style as _Cavalleria_, but it is superbly put together and very dramatic. As these operas are both short, they are often performed together. The rôle of Canio (_I Pagliacci_) was one of Caruso’s masterpieces. How wonderful to think that his voice has been preserved for the future generations through his records of which _Ridi Pagliaccio_ (_Laugh Clown_) is one of the finest. It is generally admitted that Caruso’s voice was the most glorious of our age, and certainly there was no artist more idolized than he. In this same opera Antonio Scotti’s performance of the famous Prologue is equally beautiful. GIORDANO Umberto Giordano (1867) goes into peculiar realms for subjects for his operas. He uses local political intrigues and literature for his themes, and is known especially for his _André Chenier_ and _Fedora_ which are given in many opera houses of the world. In _Siberia_ he uses folk songs of Russia. He has recently set _The Jest_ by Sem Benelli librettist of _L’Amore dei Tre Re_ (_The Love of Three Kings_) by Italo Montemezzi. PUCCINI THE POPULAR IDOL Now we come to a delightful opera maker, Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924). He is the greatest modern Italian with the exception of Verdi. He has a distinctive touch that gives him individuality. He keeps a nice balance between voice, orchestra and melody. His music is always full of color and feeling. His themes, for the most part, touch the heart and have gained wide popularity. His first opera was _Manon Lescaut_, the same story which Massenet used in his delightful opera _Manon_; _La Bohème_ is his next and is often said to be his best. It is a tale of artist life in the Latin Quarter of Paris and is full of romance, color, gaiety and sadness. His story is taken from Murger’s _Vie de Bohème_, which was a fortunate choice. _Madame Butterfly_ is another of his glittering successes. It has a decided Japanese flavor in its musical phrases. It is based on a story by John Luther Long, which was made into a play by David Belasco. Butterfly was one of Geraldine Farrar’s loveliest rôles. _Tosca_, in which Farrar, Caruso and Scotti made a famous trio, is a blood curdling drama of murder, cruelty and love, full of music which mirrors the story. The libretto was taken from Victorien Sardou’s _La Tosca_, a celebrated drama in which the “divine Sarah” (Bernhardt) made one of her most brilliant successes.