Opera Pagliacci – A Great Beginner’s Opera

Opera Pagliacci

The opera Pagliacci is an excellent opera to see, if you are a beginner to the world of opera. It has all the elements of a successful opera and provides a good introduction to what is the opera?

In Europe, Pagliacci (The Clowns) is often staged alone. In the U.S. and Canada, it is usually presented as a double-bill, together with Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry).

In Italian, I Pagliacci means “Clowns”, whereas Il Pagliacci translates as “The Clowns”. For this reason, Pagliacci, the opera, is sometimes referred to as the Italian opera about clowns.

Many famous opera singers have sung in the opera Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo: Luciano Pavarotti, Enrico Caruso, Placido Domingo, Mario Lanza, Modest Menzinsky.

What Makes the Opera Pagliacci a Good Beginner’s Must-See?

Pagliacci Clown

These are some of the features and characteristics that make Pagliacci a good beginner’s opera.

Click on each, to find out more:

1. There is an evil clown.
2. The opera plot is based on a great big lie.

Come back and visit us again, as we continue to add more and more fun-facts and interesting information about the opera Pagliacci.

The Opera Pagliacci Has an Evil Clown

Evil Clown in Opera Pagliacci

Traditionally, we think of clowns as being funny. Their job at parties and circus events is to make everyone laugh.

However, not all clowns are known to be good. Evil clowns in films and stage productions may look like your average clown, but their behaviour is not humorous. Evil clowns, who use unusual elements to instill fear and loathing, are the classic villains.

Some children and adults see nothing funny about a clown. Instead, their white faces and grotesque, painted smiles instill fear and loathing. This primal fear of clowns is known as coulrophobia.

Click to view an opera video clip and find out more about Tonio, the evil clown in Pagliacci.

The Opera Pagliacci Appears to be Based on a Lie

The Leoncavallo Opera

Ruggero Leoncavallo was slapped with a lawsuit for plagiarizing the plot for the opera Pagliacci. In his defense, Leoncavallo claimed that the opera plot was based on a childhood experience.

But, evidence seems to suggest that Leoncavallo lied. There are a lot of similarities between the works of:

• Spanish playwright Joaquin Estebanez
• French playwright Catulle Mendes
• French playwright Paul Ferrier
• Italian-French actor-writer Tabarin

and the plot of the opera Pagliacci by Leoncavallo.

Find out the details of the controversy surrounding Leoncavallo and the clown plot for Pagliacci and view an opera video clip of the opening scene.