English Touring Opera - Pagliacci

Ruggero Leoncavello's 'Pagliacci' ('The Clowns') was first performed in Milan in 1892 – a tragic love-triangle between Canio, the leader of a touring theatre company, his actor wife Nedda, and her lover Silvio. They are both murdered by Canio when he discovers their plans to flee together after the end of the show. Compared favourably at the time with the great works of Puccini, Leoncavello never really achieved the same success again with subsequent works. However, 'Pagliacci' remains as a popular, and frequently performed, work, and its lead character has been referenced in popular culture in everything from an Agatha Christie short story to Batman comics and The Simpsons. It is also mentioned in the song Mr Sandman - "Give him a lonely heart like Pagliacci, And lots of wavy hair like Liberace”, and also by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles in their song 'Tears of A Clown'

Because of its relatively short length, 'Pagliacci' is often presented alongside Pietro Mascagni's 'Cavelleria Rusticana', where the pairing is colloquially known to opera buffs as the “Cav-Pag”. However, English Touring Opera have chosen to present it as a stand-alone work meaning, even when allowing for a twenty minute interval between Act One and Act Two, we are all done and dusted in just over 100 minutes. And with the tickets at Norwich Theatre Royal priced at up to £42, this is not a cheap date.

However, quality is everything, and English Touring Opera never fail to disappoint, and always deliver the goods. They also offer a free pre-show talk (prior booking required) to those able to arrive one hour before curtain up. These are highly recommended, as the knowledge and enthusiasm of those presenting the talks are always enlightening and infectious. Tonight it was orchestra conductor Gerry Cornelius who shared with us his passion for the work, and all things Italian.

Eleanor Burke's direction of Pagliacci sees a modern-day version of the story opening with a press conference ahead of the opening night of a new show. After final rehearsals, most of the cast head off to the village for a drink, whilst leading lady Nedda (Paula Sides) and her lover Silvio (Danny Shelvy) discuss plans to run away together after the end of the show. Overheard by Tonio (Matthew Siveter), the plan is reported back to company lead, and husband of Nedda, Canio (Ronald Samm), and Nedda ends Act Two by being strangled by a telephone cord. The contrast between Act One and Act Two is bold and dramatic, with the set (designed by Michael Pavelka) cleverly transforming from back-of-stage to fluorescent pink stage set by a simple 180 degree rotation and some clever lighting work by Zeyney Kepekli.

The opera is sung in English, with English surtitles presumably for the benefit of those with impaired hearing. Personally, I would have preferred the original Italian libretto to have been used, and perhaps would have preferred the original plot to have been adhered to, in which the lascivious Silvio is also despatched by Canio. But the tagline for English Touring Opera is, first and foremost, “Opera That Moves” and this applies just as much to their innovative productions as it does to their geograhical wanderings. There are some wonderful performances, including Ronald Samm's moving delivery of the 'Vesti la giubba' aria at the end of Act One as he changes in preparation for the show, only to replace his own clothes with an identical stage outfit. This is, most certainly, a case of 'art imitating art'.

The sound from the orchestra pit, with Gerry Cornelius conducting, is rich and full, Eleanor Burke's direction is truly innovative, and with the characters brought to life with some wonderful costume designs by Laura Jane Stanfield. An iconic work, given a breath of fresh air by the excellent English Touring Opera.