Pagliacci, I, is a tragic opera in a prologue (introduction) 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 .
Pagliacci deals with life among members of a traveling company of actors in Italy in the 1860’s. The story concerns the jealousy of Canio, the leader of the players. The opera opens with a prologue sung in front of the curtain by Tonio, a clown. He urges the audience to understand that what they are about to see is a true “slice of life”—a real story about real people.
Early in Act I, Canio learns that Nedda, his wife, is unfaithful. He discovers she is having a love affair, but he does not know the identity of the man. Canio sings one of the most popular tenor arias in all opera, “Vesti la giubba” (“On with the motley”), which expresses his tragic fate of playing a clown while his heart is breaking. (Motley in this sense means a jester’s multicolored costume.) Canio learns that his wife’s lover is Silvio, a peasant who lives in the village where the actors are performing. That night, during the troupe’s performance of their play, Canio stabs Nedda and then Silvio. In addition to Canio’s powerful arias, the opera includes a charming monologue sung by Nedda, in which she longs to be free as the birds overhead. She also sings a passionate love duet with Silvio.
Loading the player...Opera: Verismo
