Pagliacci (The Clowns) is an opera in two acts and a prologue by Ruggiero Leoncavallo. The libretto, by the composer, is based on a true story. It premiered in Milan in 1892. It is often performed in a double bill with Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. Pagliacci features one of the opera repertoire's most famous and popular arias, "Recitar/Vesti la giubba". The foyer of Charles Garniers Opéra, Paris, opened 1875 Opera is an art form consisting of a dramatic stage performance set to music. ... Ruggiero Leoncavallo (March 8, 1857 - August 9, 1919) was an Italian opera composer. ... A libretto is the body of words used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, oratorio, or musical. ... Location within Italy Piazza della Scala Milan (Italian: Milano; Milanese dialect: Milán) is the main city in northern Italy, and is located in the plains of Lombardy, the most populated and developed of Italian regions. ... 1892 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to a libretto by Targioni-Tozzetti and Menasci, adapted from a short story by Giovanni Verga. ... Pietro Mascagni (Livorno December 7, 1863 - Rome August 2, 1945) is one of the most important Italian opera composers of the turn of the 20th century. ...

Many older Americans might still associate this aria with a Rice Krispies commercial that aired in the 1960s. The opening line of Queen's 1984 single "It's A Hard Life" ("I don't want my freedom / There's no reason for living / With a broken heart") is sung to the melody of the aria's "Ridi, Pagliaccio / Sul tuo amore infranto!" (the melody deviates at the "With a broken heart" part, and then segues into the main song). A Rice Krispies box from the 1990s Rice Krispies is a brand of breakfast cereal that has been produced by Kelloggs since 1928. ... The 1960s, or The Sixties, in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ... Image:Queen logo. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Cast

The main characters are themselves actors in a traveling troupe performing short public pieces in the tradition of Commedia dell'Arte. Karel Dujardins set his closely-observed scene of a travelling troupes makeshift stage against idealized ruins in the Roman Campagna: dated 1657 (Louvre Museum) Commedia dellarte, (Italian, meaning comedy of professional artists) was a form of improvisational theater which began in the 16th century and was popular until...

• Canio, chief of a village comedy troupe (in the second act, Pagliaccio, a clown) (Tenor).
• Nedda, his wife (in the second act, Columbina) (Soprano).
• Tonio (in the second act, Taddeo) (Baritone).
• Beppe (in the second act, Arlecchino) (Tenor).
• Silvio, a young peasant (Tenor).

A clown participating in a Memorial Day parade A clown today is one of various types of comedic performers, on stage, television, in the circus and rodeo. ... This article is about the theatrical character. ... Arlecchino (also known as Harlequin in English, Arlequin in French) is the most popular of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian Commedia dellArte. ...

Synopsis

Setting: Near Montalto, in Calabria, August 15, 1865.

Calabria, formerly Brutium, is a region in southern Italy which occupies the toe of the Italian peninsula south of Naples. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Act I

Near the village. The curtain ascends during the overture, and from behind a second curtain Tonio appears as Prologue.

(Tonio: "A word allow me!")

He explains the character of the performance in a serious manner as an actual occurrence, and the performance begins.

The primitive theatre of the village comedians is erected and the actors parade in fantastic costumes to the great delight of the villagers.

(Chorus: "This way they come, with fife and drum.")

Tonio, who resides in the village, offers his hand to assist Nedda in alighting, but is assaulted by Canio, who boxes his ears, swearing vengeance. The peasants ask the actors to drink with them. Canio and Beppe accept, while Tonio remains with Nedda. Amid the good-natured raillery of the villagers Canio declares solemnly that as clown he will take part in any joke, but will resent any insult to his honour as a husband. The angelus is heard.

(Chorus: "Ding-dong! The shadows fall!")

He plainly evinces his fiery temperament.

(Canio: "Such a game is hardly worth the playing.")

Nedda, who is untrue to her husband, trembles at the words of Canio

(Nedda: "How fierce he looked")

...to conceal her fears, she sings.

(Nedda: "As the songbirds soar.")

The ugly Tonio remains and becomes offensive in his attentions to Nedda, whereupon she strikes him with a whip, which drives him to frenzy.

(Tonio: "I know you hate me.")

He departs, swearing revenge.

Silvio approaches Nedda; they love each other

(Silvio: "Why hast thou taught me?"), and Silvio wins Nedda through the ardour of his love and induces her to fly with him at night. Tonio, who has been listening to their conversation, calls Canio and Beppe, and with great difficulty, Silvio escapes, unrecognised by the pursuing clown. Returning, Canio, dagger in hand, demands from Nedda the name of her lover. Tonio whispers that the lover will surely attend the performance and will then be detected. Canio in despair prepares for the performance.

(Canio: "To jest with my heart maddened with sorrow.")

Act II

The comedy begins before the assembled crowd. Columbine, represented by Nedda, collects the money, and warns Silvio, who is present. The play begins.

(Arlecchino: "O Columbine.")

Canio stumbles confusedly through his part, and again demands from Nedda the name of her seducer. When she replies lightly, hoping to disarm him

(Nedda: "I never knew you were so witty")

...he seizes a knife from the table, and stabs Nedda, who tries to escape in the crowd. As Silvio comes to her aid, Canio recognises him, and plunges the knife in his heart.

(Canio: "No Punchinello am I ? but a man!") Punchinello was the American spinoff of Punch magazine. ...

All are filled with horror and dismay, and stand irresolute, not knowing what to do. Tonio, coming forward, gravely dismisses the audience, saying with grim cynicism, "The comedy is finished" ("La commedia è finita").