Pagliacciin German The Bajazzo means “clown”. Pagliacci is also a very short tragedy that deals with the themes of jealousy, betrayal and the destruction of relationships and is therefore often performed together with other operas, in this case after Cavalleria Rusticana.
Plot
Pagliacci tells the story of a theater group that moves from place to place. The head of the troop, Caniois with Nedda married, but she has a secret affair with the farmer Silvio. Tonioanother member of the troupe, is also in love with Nedda, but she rejects him. In revenge for this rejection, he betrays Canio the secret of the affair. Kills in a fit of jealousy and anger Canio as well as Nedda as well as Silvio. A tragic ending that represents love, passion and betrayal on stage.
Stage design
The stage set, designed in the 1970s, is lively, flashy and colorful, in keeping with the circus character of a theater troupe. There’s a huge one on the stage choirincluding one Children’s choir with around 40 childrenwhich can only be seen in the first scene. The viewer immediately asks the question: Why? Pagliacci not first, so before Cavalleria rusticanaplayed? This way the children could come home early after their performance.
Various railway carriages are pushed back and forth on the stage, sometimes rotated, to represent different locations and to illustrate the existence of a showman.
Sometimes a bar, sometimes a kitchen, sometimes Silvio’s restaurant. A colorful VW Beetle is also pushed onto the stage on which Nadda is positioned with her lover.
The act of killing, a stabbing, is only briefly hinted at; there is no blood to be seen, and the knife is also only hinted at. At a time when knife attacks are unfortunately becoming more and more common, it is commendable that a state opera does not advertise acts of violence.
begg the death scene the blonde actress tears up Singer takes off her wig and dress and only wears a simple underdress and short black hair. This is also how she appears when bowing. This is another action that I as a viewer cannot understand. Suddenly the main actress looks different. Anyone who doesn’t pay attention for a minute will wonder, who is that?
The Trailer to Pagliacci was also confusing, mixing two opera performances together. It’s a knockoutcombination Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacciwhich makes the whole situation even more unclear.
Trailer for CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI (approx. 1.5 min):