PAGLIACCI

           The first opera that I ever attended was, " Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo. I'm not going to lie, I was not expecting to enjoy it. I always thought that the Opera was.... over dramatic. I thought that opera was unrealistic and was not relatable to the public. By the end of the first act my opinion had changed. The emotions expressed throughout the show were so relateable.

A Summary of the Opera.
PART I. Southern Italy, around 1865-70. Excited villagers walk about as a small theatrical road company arrives in town. Canio, head of the troupe, describes that night's offering, and when someone jokingly suggests that the hunchback Tonio is secretly in love with his young wife, Canio warns he will tolerate no flirting with Nedda. Bells call the women to church, the men go to the tavern, leaving Nedda alone. Disturbed by her husband's jealousy, she envies the freedom of the birds. Tonio appears and indeed tries to make love to her, but she denies him. Enraged, he grabs her, and she hits him with a whip, getting rid of him but inspiring an oath of vengeance. Nedda  does have a lover named Silvio,he persuades her to run away with him at midnight. But Tonio, who has seen them, hurries off to tell Canio. Before long the jealous husband bursts in on the guilty pair. Silvio escapes, and Nedda refuses to identify him, even when threatened with a knife. Beppe, another member of the acting troupe, has to restrain Canio. Tonio advises him to wait until evening to catch Nedda's lover. Alone, Canio sobs that he must play the clown though his heart is breaking.

Here is the song he sings
SO POWERFUL!

PART II. The villagers, and Silvio, assemble to see the play "Pagliaccio e Colombina". In the absence of her husband, Pagliaccio (played by Canio), Colombina (Nedda) is serenaded by her lover Arlecchino (Beppe), who dismisses her dumb servant, Taddeo (Tonio). The sweethearts dine together and plot to poison Pagliaccio, who soon arrives; Arlecchino slips out the window.  Taddeo assures Pagliaccio of his wife's innocence, firing Canio's real-life jealousy. Forgetting the script, he demands that Nedda reveal her lover's name. She tries to continue with the play, the audience applauding the realism of the "acting." Maddened by her defiance, Canio stabs Nedda and then Silvio, who has rushed forward from the crowd to help her. Canio cries out that the comedy is ended.

 The emotions of jealousy, dealing with tragic sadness dealing with them in silence, love and lust were so relatable. All of these were so powerful realistic human emotions changed my perspective of Opera forever.