Organization

Conductor

Anatoly Gus

Stage director

Kari Heiskanen

Set designer

Ernst Heidebrecht

Costume designer

Maria Danilova

Valery Kritskov

Chorus master

Marina Vasilkova

Victor Kuturaev

Lighting designer

Sergei Martynov

Novaya Opera

Pagliacci

Moscow

Russia

Novaya Opera Theatre

Pagliacci Leoncavallo

Public

Approved

A film crew of celebrity and superstar Canio arrives in a small town. Comedian Tonio is passionately in love with his wife Nedda, she only laughs at the feelings of this cripple. In parallel, the love story of Nedda and sound engineer Silvio develops. Tonio decides to take revenge on his obstinate lover and make Canio find out about the betrayal of Nedda's inconspicuous wife. During the filming of the film, the action does not unfold according to the planned scenario. Canio learns of the betrayal, and from that moment on, a cheap movie farce and genuine drama are woven together. Canio stabs his wife and her lover with a knife, and then kills himself, leaving all witnesses to the drama in disbelief.

Not everyone knows that one of the most catchphrases of La commedia è finita is the last line in this opera.

Interestingly, the plot of the opera "Pagliacci" was based on an absolutely real story. Once in the court, where Leoncavallo's father was the chairman, a murder case was considered - an artist of a wandering troupe in a fit of jealousy killed his wife on stage right during the performance. This tragic incident sunk deeply into the soul of the future composer, later embodied in the best of his opera creations.

To the idea of creating a small realistic opera with an intriguing plot, Leoncavallo was prompted by the triumphant success of the one-act opera "Rural Honor" by composer Pietro Mascagni. These two operas are performed in our theater on the same evening according to the European tradition of repertoire unity.

In this performance, Kari Heiskanen, a theatre director, playwright and actor, proved himself as a cinematographer. For the first time, the technique of amateur shooting was introduced into the musical action. K. Heiskanen presented the artists with a video camera. The final scene is broadcast on a white canvas-screen, enhancing the tragic denouement and creating the effect of presence at the film studio.

English

Pagliacci by Leoncavallo, From (2011/2011), Directed by Kari Heiskanen,, Conductor Anatoly Gus, Valery Kritskov, Novaya Opera Theatre, Moscow, Russia

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Crew

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues