Pagliacci

Summary of the opera

Tonio appears in front of the curtain. He talks about the main theme of the drama, which will unfold before the audience’s eyes: under the mask of his character, the actors are forced to hide their true feelings. A traveling theater arrives in an Italian village, and Canio calls out the locals for an evening performance. Peasants willingly agree and invite the troupe to visit the tavern. Canio and Beppo go with them, and Tonio, having refused the invitation, remains to secretly watch Nedda. Nedda alone dreams of love and awaits a meeting with Silvio, who lives in this village. Tonio declares his love to Nedda, but she laughs at him and besieges him with a whip. Tonio swears revenge. Meanwhile, Silvio comes to Nedda, he asks the girl to leave her husband and run with him. Canio suddenly returned, whom Tonio had called. Silvio manages to escape, but the jealous demands that Nedda name her lover. Only Beppo saves her from a knife strike. However, it’s time to prepare for the show … Evening. The performance begins, which Silvio comes to. The plot of the play recalls a real drama in the life of comedians: Taddeo is in love with Colombina, who has an affair with Harlequin. Lovers’ meeting is interrupted by the clown. Columbine’s farewell words addressed to Harlequin remind Canio of real events in his life. Jealousy obscures the mind, and it kills Nedda, and then Silvio, who rushed to the aid of her lover.