Pagliacci

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".

Cast

The main characters are themselves actors in a traveling troupe performing short public pieces in the tradition of Commedia dell'Arte.

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• 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).