Theodore Deacon for the Seattle Opera Guild presents a preview of “Pagliacci” by Ruggero Leoncavallo. This Italian tragedy tells of the sufferings of a clown betrayed by his wife.
[From The Seattle Public Library: Branch Events]
This was interesting, if over-subscribed. The presenter said the library expected 15 people: I would guess 50-60 showed up. So the format of a guy presenting the story and talking through the musical highlights didn’t work as well as it might.
So many versions of this aria at iTunes, even the canonical recording by Caruso.
But I learned a few things regardless. Some of it was only peripheral to the music (Leoncavallo’s ego and temperament) but the idea of verismo opera, a slice of life with shorter songs, realistic (ie, common) characters, and best of all, blood, rings true to today.