Pagliacci, I, is a tragic opera in a prologue and two acts by the Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo. The Italian title means "Clowns" or "Players." The libretto (text), in Italian, was written by the composer. The opera received its first performance in Milan, Italy, on May 21, 1892. Pagliacci is a verismo (realistic) opera and is usually performed with another verismo opera, the one-act Cavalleria Rusticana.