In the thrilling curtain-raiser to the Opera North season, Leoncavallo carves a ‘bleeding slice of life’ out of the tale of a touring theatre troupe preparing for a show. Canio is eaten up with jealous suspicion of his wife, the leading lady. When he learns the truth of her faithlessness, the performance of the play is derailed by real life passion spun out of control, and the stage becomes the scene of a violent reckoning. Pagliacci is an operatic rollercoaster, hurtling towards a bloody climax that unfolds in front of the shocked on-stage audience.

Strap in tight and get ready to career from laughter to horrified awe as comedy and tragedy collide amidst scintillating melodies. Pagliacci includes some of the most famous music ever written for Italian opera, including the heartbroken Canio’s ‘show must go on’ aria ‘Vesti la giubba’ and Tonio’s Prologue.

Pagliacci is part of The Little Greats, our season of short operas with huge emotions.

In Leeds, mix and match operas to create your own double bill, or see Pagliacci with Cavalleria rusticana on tour.