Opera: Pagliacci
Thursday,
October 22, 2009 6:00 AM
"Pagliacci"
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25
Where: Ohio Theatre, Downtown
Web: operacolumbus.org
The granddaddy of all stories about clowns who laugh on the inside while crying on the outside,
Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci presents a case of life imitating art too closely. It's about
a performer who must joke on stage while his heart's being ripped out by the unfaithful wife who's
also his co-star in a play about infidelity. The late-19th-century work is now such a popular
choice among performers and audiences, it's been a go-to opera reference for shows like The
Simpsons and Seinfeld. Opera Columbus offers their version this weekend, accompanied by the
Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
