Leoncavallo's Dark Masterpiece

For centuries, the joy and comedy that clowns bring their audiences have often been fused with the dark underbelly of human emotions - despair, revenge, and rage. Ruggero Leoncavallo's operatic masterpiece Pagliacci does just that and is still widely performed thanks to its timeless, story-telling score. Experience its majesty during Minnesota Opera's latest production at the Ordway Music Theater!

What Is It About?

A truly dramatic tale of love and betrayal, Pagliacci revolves around the turbulent relationships between members of a Commedia del Arte troupe. As they perform for a rural Italian village, the lines between their show and their real lives become increasingly blurred, and a whirlwind of comedy and tragedy ensues.