Organization

Conductor

Cris Frisco

Stage director

John de los Santos

Singer

Tenor

David Tayloe

Peppe

Baritone

Emmett O'Hanlon

Silvio

Andrew Manea

Tonio

Soprano

Amber Monroe

Nedda

Dane Suarez

Canio

Orchestra

Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Opera Birmingham

Others

Opera Birmingham Chorus

Italian

Pagliacci

Birmingham

United States

Dorothy Jemison Day Theater

Public

English

Approved

Pavarotti - Vesti La Giubba(With English Subtitles)
In the finale of the first act of Ruggiero Leoncavallo's unforgettable two-act opera, Pagliacci, Canio, a clown, and leader of a traveling group of performers, has just found out his wife is having an affair. Despite the aloof and foolish characters he portrays in his acting troupe, Canio is a very serious person and highly protective of his wife. After one of their performances, Canio and a few other cast members go out to drink in celebration. When Canio's wife, Nedda, declines and stays behind with another cast member, Tonio, someone jokes that she stayed behind to be seduced by him. Canio becomes furious and rebukes them on the spot. He believes his wife is faithful and will not let anyone say differently. While he drinks with his friend Beppe, Tonio does try to seduce Nedda. Nedda refuses his advances and sends him away. Tonio doesn't leave, though—he hides nearby. Moments later, Silvio, Nedda's lover, greets her and convinces her to elope with him. Tonio runs back to the tavern to tell Canio. 
Canio rushes out of the tavern and runs back to Nedda, just missing her lover. He demands that she reveal her lover's identity, but she refuses. Beppe talks Canio out of harming his wife and insists that they prepare for the next performance. As Canio gets into costume, he sings this heart-wrenching aria. To find out what happens in the next act, read the synopsis of Pagliacci.

Italian:
Recitar! Mentre preso dal delirio,
non so più quel che dico,
e quel che faccio!
Eppur è d'uopo, sforzati!
Bah! Sei tu forse un uom?
Tu se' Pagliaccio!

Vesti la giubba,
e la faccia infarina.
La gente paga, e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina,
ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudirà!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto
in una smorfia il singhiozzo e 'l dolor, Ah!

Ridi, Pagliaccio,
sul tuo amore infranto!
Ridi del duol, che t'avvelena il cor!

English:
To act! While out of my mind,
I no longer know what I say,
or what I do!
And yet it's necessary... make an effort!
Bah! Are you not a man?
You are Pagliaccio!

Put on your costume,
powder your face.
The people pay to be here, and they want to laugh.
And if Harlequin shall steal your Columbine,
laugh, Pagliaccio, so the crowd will cheer!
Turn your distress and tears into jest,
your pain and sobbing into a funny face - Ah!

Laugh, Pagliaccio,
at your broken love!
Laugh at the grief that poisons your heart!

Pavarotti - Vesti La Giubba (With English Subtitles)

This one-act opera, filled with passionate tuneful music, is Leoncavallo’s lurid tale of a murderous clown’s vengeful act. Based on an actual crime, Pagliacci features a leading tenor role considered to be one of the most challenging because of the wide range of moods the character exhibits, from manic humor to murderous rage. This roller coaster of an opera will have you on the edge of your seat!

Featuring a wonderful cast of rising opera stars along with the Opera Birmingham Chorus, accompanied by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.

 Sung in Italian with English supertitles. The performance length is approximately 90 minutes with one intermission.

Pagliacci by Leoncavallo, From (2024/2024), Directed by John de los Santos,, Conductor Cris Frisco, Dorothy Jemison Day Theater, Birmingham, United States

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Videos

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Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues