Ruggiero Leoncavallo Pagliacci

In the prologue, Tonio explains that although characters from the commedia dell’arte appear in the upcoming play, they are also human beings of flesh and blood. A troupe of actors arrives in the village of Montalto. They are led by Canio, who invites the locals to the evening’s performance. On stage, he portrays the dim-witted clown Pagliaccio, who is being cheated on by Colombina. In real life, however, Canio is a vengeful husband, who will not tolerate infidelity on the part of his wife, Nedda (Colombina). Tonio – playing the buffoon Taddeo in the comedy – immediately gets a taste of this when Canio slaps him for gallantly helping Nedda down from the cart. When Tonio’s further advances are met with whiplashes from Nedda, he swears revenge on them both. Observing Nedda meeting her lover, Silvio, he alerts Canio. Infuriated, Canio chases Silvio, who manages to escape. Nedda refuses to reveal her lover’s name even when threatened at knifepoint. The performance begins, and everyone must take to the stage to act out a nearly identical scene, now as comedy: After Pagliaccio goes out, his wife Colombina receives her lover, Arlecchino. When Pagliaccio unexpectedly returns home, Arlecchino gives him the slip (just as Silvio did), and Pagliaccio demands to know the name of his rival. Colombina refuses to disclose it. Naturally, Canio feels transported back to the identical (real life) situation from before the show. Increasingly, he breaks character and becomes ever more violent toward Nedda. The audience does not realize that the on-stage comedy is turning into a horrific tragedy; instead, they are thrilled by the intensity of the “performance.” Finally, Canio gives Nedda a choice: give up the name of her lover or her life. When she still refuses, he stabs her. In the throes of death, Nedda calls out for Silvio, who Canio also kills. Devastated, he allows himself to be disarmed and arrested. Tonio has the final word: “La commedia è finita!” (“The comedy is over!”)