SAN DIEGO, – San Diego Opera has announced that Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo will open their 2014 season Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 for four performances only. Making his return to the Company to sing the role of the murderous clown Canio, is American tenor Frank Porretta who was last heard as the Duke in Rigoletto in 2002. Soprano Adina Nitescu makes her Company debut as Nedda, Canio’s ill-fated wife. Returning to the Company is baritone Stephen Powell as the hunchback Tonio, who is in love with Nedda. Baritone David Adam Moore, who made his Company debut as Mercutio in 2010’s Romeo and Juliet to rave reviews, returns to sing the role of Nedda’s lover, Silvio. Rounding out the cast is tenor Joel Sorensen as Beppe. Conductor Yves Abel, who made his Company debut last season leading performances of The Daughter of the Regiment, leads the orchestra for these performances. Director Andrew Sinclair, who directed last season’s Aida, returns to stage the action. The set design is by John Coyne and the costumes were designed by Ed Kotanen. The lighting designer is Michael Whitfield. This production of Pagliacci is owned by San Diego Opera. These performances will be the fourth time this opera has been performed by San Diego Opera with other performances happening in 2008, 1979 and 1969.
One of the most powerful operas in the repertoire, Pagliacci is gut-wrenching as the hunchback Tonio, a member of a traveling troupe of players, is rejected by Canio’s wife, Nedda. After Tonio sees Nedda with another man, in an act of revenge he tells Canio. In the famous aria “Vesti la giubba”, Canio applies his clown make-up saying that the show must go on, but creates his own murderous ending before horrified onlookers. Performed in Italian with English translations above the stage.
Pagliacci will have a live radio broadcast Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 at 7 p.m. on KPBS radio, 89.5 FM (97.7 FM Calexico) and online at www.kpbs.org
