Travel tips for opera lovers – Brissago and Leoncavallo

Leoncavallo in Brissago

The series about historical places of opera art & culture. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Leoncavallo in Brissago.

All Destinations on google maps with links to detailed Blogposts:

Leoncavallo in Brissago

In 1890, Ruggiero Leoncavallo came to the Ticino village of Brissago for the first time during a bicycle tour. He kept the village in good memories later rented a house and 14 years later decided to build his own Art Nouveau villa there, the artists’ retreat “Myriam”. There he received, among others, the singers Caruso and Tetrazzini and Eleonora Duse, and wrote his following works. He had the striking statues of his “Roland of Berlin” and his “Zaza”, both operatic figures, erected in the garden. He also befriended the eccentric Antoinette de Saint-Leger, who had her villa on the Isole di Brissago.

Leoncavallo also made efforts to promote cultural aspects in Ticino and Brissago had already made him an honorary citizen with a beautiful tribute in 1904. Leoncavallo was always generous with his money and with the beginning of the World War he fell into financial difficulties and had to sell Villa Myriam in 1916. This villa was unfortunately demolished in 1978.

The statue Zaza with Leoncavallo and wife:

Destination Madonna di Ponte

Leoncavallo subsequently moved away and died a few years later in Tuscany, where he was also buried. According to the Brissaghesi, Leoncavallo had expressed the wish to be buried in Brissago. 70 years later, people in Brissago remembered this and wanted to transfer the body to Brissago. However, they could not find the ominous letter that was supposed to prove this verbal statement. Finally, Leoncavallo’s last remaining relative agreed and the remains were transferred to his present burial place, the beautiful church of Madonna di Ponte in Brissago. His tomb now lies in the beautiful portico overlooking Lake Maggiore.

Leoncavallos Tomb:

Madonna di Ponte:

Destination  Museo Leoncavallo

After the transfer of the mortal remains, a museum was established in an old hotel in 2002. This was possible thanks to the support of the art-loving Baroness von Münchhausen, who had found her late home in Brissago. Fortunately, the statue of Roland and the Zaza were saved and are exhibited together with the piano and other memorabilia.

The Roland, a gift from Wilhelm II, a copy of the real Roland in Berlin: 

https://leoncavallo.ch/index.html

Destination Festival Leoncavallo

Every year in May a small festival is held in the church of Brissago. The program consists in each case of three performances of the Italian composer.

http://www.ottaviopalmieri.ch/