When talking about Ruggiero Leoncavallo, our thoughts immediately go to his most famous opera, “Pagliacci”. But this Italian composer wrote much more. Among his lesser-known gems is an intimate and delicate piece: “Notturno”. This composition in Ingrid Carbone’s interpretation – as published in her 4th CD “Ruggiero Leoncavallo: Pour Piano [Complete Works] – has recently reached over 160k views on YouTube.

“Notturno” is one of these less theatrical pieces, but full of atmosphere: a sort of b-side of the composer, more intimate and reflective.  “Notturno” is a short romance for voice and piano, characterized by a dreamy, almost suspended atmosphere. As the name suggests, it evokes the quiet of the night. It is a perfect piece for those who love sweeter lyrical music, far from the great dramas of the stage.

Its text speaks of silence, dreams and love. One of the first and most famous interpretations of the Notturno is that of Enrico Caruso, the great Neapolitan tenor. His warm and intense voice gave new life to this piece, helping to make it known even outside of Italy. With simple but evocative images, it delicately accompanies the melody. Listening to it is like looking out a window in the night and letting yourself be carried away by thoughts.

But even though it was born as a chamber piece, the Notturno has been adapted several times: for orchestra, for solo instruments, and obviously in modern recordings. This shows how Leoncavallo’s melody is still capable of inspiring musicians of all ages.

In short: if you love classical music or are looking for something new to discover among the great Italian composers, Ruggiero Leoncavallo’s Notturno is a small masterpiece that deserves attention. Not only does it show a lesser-known side of the composer, but it also offers a few minutes of pure musical beauty.

You can listen to it here.