Pagliacci

by Thomson Smillie

Pagliacci may be the most completely compelling short opera in the repertory and owes much of its impact to a brilliant story based, it is said, on true life and told through the device of a play-within-a-play. The action is set in Calabria in the deep south of Italy where the jealousies and illicit passions of a troupe of strolling actors precisely intersect with the play they are performing to both touching and tragic effect. Leoncavallo was his own librettist, and his literary skills, allied to great melodic creativity, guarantee that in its two short acts Pagliacci 'Clowns' delivers an overwhelming emotional experience.

Genres: Music

Audio CD

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leoncavallo’s libretto (one of the few opera composers who wrote his own libretti) “Pagliacci” is so intriguing that while reading it I couldn’t help but think of what a great short story it would make. Unlike the operas I’ve previously seen, the libretto is even more compelling than the music. In this recording, Timson reveals that Leoncavallo’s first and true love in the arts was fittingly literature, which explains the genius of the libretto.

This play is a fine example of art exactly imitating nature, even while Canio famously sings that life and arts are not the same thing.

Si puo’ Signori Signori: “Look beyond the disguise and see the real suffering artist beneath.”

Vesti la giubba: “Laugh at the pain that is destroying you.”

Timson goes into nice detail about what exactly the role of “Commedia dell’arte” was and how it was preformed.

Young Leoncavallo was skilled enough to know that undiluted tragedy will become wearisome, and therefore he lightened the texture at times with colorful orchestral and choral passage-- like the opening of Act II.