Next at the Royal Opera House Muscat comes one of Italy’s most famous works — Ruggero Leoncavallo’s riveting Pagliacci (Clowns).
Completed in 1892, Pagliacci is based on a true story about the tragic irony in the life of a theatre clown, Canio who makes people laugh while his own life falls apart. When Tonio, an ill-intentioned fool, tells Canio that his wife, Nedda, an actor in the company, is about to elope with a lover, Silvio — just as in the play that they are currently performing, the clown becomes insanely jealous.
Life mirrors theatre, but veers violently into reality when, to the absolute horror of the audience, the clown actually stabs his wife, mortally wounding her. Nedda cries out and Silvio rushes in to save her, only to suffer the same fate.
Canio, the tragic clown is sung by José Cura, one of the greatest interpreters of this role. The outstanding cast includes soprano Davinia Rodriguez as the unfortunate Nedda, Gëzim Myshketa as her ill-fated lover Silvio, and Marco Vratogna as the cruel Tonio. This masterful production is staged by Franco Zeffirelli, widely recognised as the world’s most gifted and original director of opera and theatre.
Leoncavello’s powerful score is played by the Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma conducted by Maestro Paolo Olmi. As the Royal Opera House reaches out to the community, an added feature is the appearance of local talent in the role of extras.
This unforgettable opera will be performed on two nights — Thursday, March 15 and Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 7:30 pm.
For further information and booking consult the ROHM website: www.rohmuscat.org.om
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