Pagliacci

• CONDUCTOR:
  Elizabeth Askren
• DIRECTOR:
  Jamie Offenbach
• Canio:
  Yi Li*
• Nedda:
  Sofia Troncoso*
• Tonio:
  Levi Hernandez
• Silvio:
  Lucia Lucas*
• Beppe-Harlequin:
  Brendan Boyle*
• 
  *HOT debuts

Feel a husband’s jealousy, a wife’s betrayal, and a man’s love and sadness

Would you kill for love?

Dive into a world of betrayal, jealousy, and murder, with our reimagined take on Leoncavallo’s classic opera, Pagliacci. Our reinterpretation set in an apocalyptic dreamscape and staged in the round at the Blaisdell Arena, promises a truly distinctive and immersive journey, unlike any other opera we’ve produced before. 

Prepare to be captivated, from our theatrical pre-show, to the final, dramatic end. 

FEATURING:

Canio Yi Li* Nedda Sofia Troncoso* Tonio Levi Hernandez

 

WHAT US IT ABOUT?

TRADITIONAL SYNOPSIS:
Prologue
Before the opera begins, a member of the small theatrical road company, Tonio, steps in front of the curtain. He tells the audience that a clown is also a man, so a clown feels sorrow and pity just like a man.

Act I:
In the latter half of the 19th century, in Calabria Italy, the small theatrical road company arrives in the village. Canio, the troupe’s leader, and his wife Nedda are the main actors of the company. Nedda has another lover, Silvio. Nedda and Silvio promise to elope together after tonight’s performance. A member of the company, Tonio, overhears this promise, and tells Canio. Canio appears, but Silvio runs away. Canio is infuriated and asks his wife, “Who was that?” Nedda refuses to answer.
The performance will soon begin so everyone must prepare. In the dressing room, Canio puts on his costume and makeup as he sobs from heartbreak.

Act II:
The villagers gather, and the performance begins. The play is quite like Canio’s reality. Colombina (Nedda), meets her lover Arlecchino (Beppe) while her husband Pagliaccio (Canio) is out. Canio becomes out of his mind and in the middle of the play, he says, “tell me his name!” but his wife refuses to answer. The audience is excited by their realistic acting. Finally, Canio stabs Nedda to death with the audience screaming in horror. Before her death, Nedda cries out, “Help me, Silvio!” Silvio appears in the audience and attempts to run away but Canio catches him and stabs him. Canio then tells the audience, “The comedy has ended.”

HOT’S NOT-SO-TRADITIONAL SYNOPSIS:
Told through a flashback of memories, Tonio puts into motion a scheming plot of revenge due to unrequited love that ultimately drives his boss, Pagliaccio to murder his wife, Nedda and lover, Silvio.

Prologue
Before the performance begins, the disfigured Tonio steps into the arena. The “Greek” chorus enters the arena and sits below the stage facing the audience. Tonio tells the audience that a clown is also a person who feels sorrow and pity just like any other person. He then retreats to his perch above as he enters a dreamscape world woven with faded memories of lust, love, jealousy, betrayal, and tragedy.

Act I:
The players arrive one by one. First, Canio, the troupe leader, followed by Beppe, and Canio’s wife, Nedda. Tonio watches Nedda from the shadows as she dreams of escape. He reveals himself and says that he is in love with her. Nedda laughs at him and his feeble advances. Enraged, he forces himself on her, but she drives him off. Embarrassed and broken, he vows revenge and departs. Nedda’s lover, Silvio arrives, and they promise to run away together after tonight’s performance. Tonio happily informs Canio of Nedda’s lover. Canio catches them in each other’s arms, but Silvio quickly escapes. Enraged, Canio asks, “tell me his name!” but Nedda refuses to answer. He threatens to kill her. As the commotion subsides, the players depart as Canio is left to cry alone and heartbroken.

Entre Act:
The work lights rise as the players undergo costume and makeup changes to prepare for performance.

Act II:
The play begins but Canio quickly realizes the story is all too similar. Colombina (Nedda) meets her lover, Arlecchino (Peppe), while her husband Pagliaccio (Canio) is out. Pagliaccio comes home and mayhem begins. Canio becomes unhinged and quickly lashes out, “tell me his name!” but Nedda refuses to answer. Enraged, he kills Peppe who tries to stop him, then stabs Nedda. Before her death, Nedda cries out, “help me, Silvio!” Silvio appears and tries to help but is also stabbed. Canio stabs himself, devastated with anguish and grief, as Tonio from high above, tells the audience, “The comedy is finished.”

What’s the music like?

“Vesti la giubba” from Act 1 of Pagliacci is the most famous song from the opera and is a staple of Italian opera. It is performed by Canio, a stage performer who has just found his wife having an affair but must prepare for the show and laugh through his pain.

Nedda, the wife, says she fears what would happen if her husband ever caught her cheating, but as she hears birds chirping above, she is reminded of her dreams and is enchanted by the birds. (“Stridono lassù” – “The birds chirp up there”).

How Do You Pronounce Pagliacci?

Pagliacci, Italian for “clowns,” is pronounced in Italian “Pa-lee-a-chee”

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