The focus of Intermezzi del Verismo is the famous operas of Puccini, Mascagni, and Leoncavallo, rich in emotions and ideas. Here three verismo works by these composers merit special mention: According to some music historians, the Rome premiere of Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana on 17 May 1890 signaled verismo's birth. Leoncavallo's two-act Pagliacci has recommended itself as the perfect counterpart to the one-act opera by Puccini. Montemezzi's L'amore dei tre re developed the fundamental verismo concept in absolutely phenomenal fashion and into three gripping acts.