The museum was inaugurated in April 2002, thanks to the work of the Ruggero Leoncavallo Foundation, established in 1999 under the generous patronage of baroness Hildegarde von Münchhausen, following interest expressed by the municipality of Brissago. The three rooms in the majestic baroque palazzo Branca-Baccalà dedicated to the museum are provided by the municipal council.

Entering the museum, visitors pass a statue of Roland of Berlin, reminding us of one of Leoncavallo’s operas, and a bronze bust of the master himself. The first room contains a full biography of the composer, complete with paintings and photographs. A shop sells CDs, sheet music and post cards.

The second room houses a display of documents. These include manuscripts for Leoncavallo’s main operas and operettas. The scores include those of “I Pagliacci”, “I Medici”, “Chatterton”, “La Boheme”, “Zaza”, “Edipo Re” and “La reginetta delle rose”. Some of these first editions are now extremely rare. The original scores of other compositions are also on display. These include the symphonic poems “La nuit de mai” and “Seraphitus Seraphita” along with a number of chamber pieces.

The third room of the museum contains a reconstruction of Leoncavallo’s study, complete with furniture, the perfectly restored Erard Paris piano of 1841, and bookcases.