Vesti La Giubba—Canio and Kevin
I Pagliacci (The Strolling Players) was written—both the libretto and the music—in 1890 by Ruggiero Leoncavallo as an entry in a one-act opera competition run by a music publisher in Italy. Unfortunately, it was ineligible because its plot falls naturally into two acts. It was, however, subsequently successfully staged in Milano in 1892, and remains a favourite in the operatic repertoire. Its plot was based (more-or-less) on a true incident which happened in Montalto, where Leoncavallo’s father was the judge who presided over the murder trial of an actor with a touring company, who murdered his wife immediately after a performance.
The opera is usually performed as part of a double bill with Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana—also a story of betrayal—which was the winner of the competition in 1890.
Both these operas represent the then emerging trend of writing Opera Verismo (realistic opera). Opera moved from the "U-shaped" comedy to the "J-shaped" tragedy (the J should really be back-to-front). Now it portrayed real life, as opposed to the previous Opera Buffa which took a more comedic view of a world where the good guys always won, and the happy couples were always reunited and lived happily ever after, while the whole cast appeared on stage wearing their happy faces and singing a joyous final chorus on the village green. If one considers the literary meaning of comedy and tragedy, then Canio’s words which close the opera are particularly poignant—“La commedia è finita!” (The comedy is ended!).
Although I am not a murderer (nor am I planning to be!), Canio—as characterised by his famous aria—is probably the operatic character with whom I can most readily identify. People have often asked me how I can make funny remarks and yet still keep such a straight face. The truth is that, even if I am ‘being funny’, I’m often extremely miserable inside. I'm not actually "good ole Kevin" to whom you can say whatever you like. I have feelings, and I am far more easily hurt than you would imagine, as some people have discovered empirically.
The aria below (the show-stopper in the opera) reflects Canio’s feelings, when, having just found out about his wife’s infidelity, he faces the duty he has as an entertainer—to appear on stage, acting opposite his wife—and to make the audience laugh, even though his heart is breaking. The show must go on.
The awful consequences of his wife’s infidelity are then played out in the second act, which takes the form of the show that the cast are putting on. Reality takes over as Canio, realising how the plot of the play mimics the tragedy of his own life, really stabs his unfaithful wife to death in front of the audience. Her lover, leaping onto the stage to defend her, is also stabbed to death by Canio. At this point, as scored by Leoncavallo, Tonio—one of the other players—says “La commedia è finita!”; however, traditionally, this line is usually uttered by the grief-stricken Canio, as the curtain falls.
Try to see this opera! It is a brilliant commentary on the human condition. We aren't necessarily always betrayed by a spouse. An accident or a terminal disease can also do the job quite effectively. The outcome is the same.
And, somehow, "the show must go on".
Vesti La Giubba
Aria – Canio
Recitar!
Mentre preso del delirio non si più quel che dico
e quel che faccio!
Eppur, è d’uopo sforzati!
Bah, sei tu forse un uom?
Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
Tu sei pagliaccio!
Vesti la giubba e la faccia infarina.
La gente paga e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin t’invo la Colombina,
ridi, Pagliaccio e ognun applaudirà!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto in una smorfia;
il singhiozzo e ‘l dolor.
Ah!
Ridi pagliaccio, sul tuo amore infranto!
Ridi del duol che t’avvelena il cor!
English Translation
To act!
While so crazed that I no longer know what I say
and what I do!
And yet, you must go on!
Bah, are you perhaps a man?
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
You are a clown!
Put on the costume and the powdered face.
The people pay and come here to laugh.
And if Harlequin steals your Columbine,
Laugh, Clown, and everyone will applaud!
Transform the pain and the weeping into joking;
the sobbing and grief into a funny face.
Ah!
Laugh, clown, regardless of your broken love!
Laugh in spite of the sorrow that poisons your heart!
[If you follow the link below, you will find another reference to Canio, this time in verse.]
https://makwerhusmusings.weebly.com/playful-pantoums.html