Although “pagliacci” is Italian for “players” or better yet “clowns”, Canio’s not clowning around in Leoncavallo’s epic masterpiece I pagliacci. His beautiful wife Nedda longs to be free of his clumsy embraces, of her life as a traveling actor, and from the advances of the vile Tonio. When Canio catches her with her lover, Silvio, only the start of the troupe’s performance can stay his hand…but not for long. Leoncavallo’s gritty and gorgeous score, based on a true incident witnessed by his policeman father is a celebration of the always underlying passions of men and women. It is at once shocking and poignant as it is sung in Italian with English and Spanish projected translations; with Limme Pulliam as Canio, Kearston Piper Brown as Nedda, and Robert Mellon as Tonio; Jan. 27-Feb. 8; FGO.org.
