Laughter and Tears

Pagliacci is a one-act opera about a troupe of travelling performers doing a typical Commedia dell’Arte where the situation on stage is reflected in the lives of the performers. A typically dramatic verismo opera, it is usually teamed with Cavalleria Rusticana, which is of a similar ilk. This makes for a heavy night of opera.

Laughter and Tears included Pagliacci, but the first half comprised a Commedia dell’Arte involving members of Circus Oz, with singers performing music borrowed from the “24 Italian Songs and Arias”, which every student of singing has been brought up on. This made for a much more balanced program.

The Laughter component involved members of Circus Oz and members of the VO Professional Development Program. The walls of the set had several cavities which allowed the circus performers to dive through to escape from impending “doom”. There would be a pause for one of the singers to perform, then more slapstick from the circus performers. Their timing was amazing, and it was very funny, but still followed a clear plot.

The Circus Oz performers were also part of the troupe in Pagliacci. This concept was premiered at the Met some years ago and worked really well, introducing some levity into this dramatic opera. It worked equally well here.

However, the drama was still there, and Rosario La Spina was in full voice as the wronged husband, Canio. Elvira Fatyhkova sang beautifully as Nedda, but it was baritone James Clayton I was most impressed with as the evil Tonio, not played as a hunchback in this production. Michael Pettruccelli was a delightful Beppe, but I was surprised they imported an international baritone for the smaller role of Silvio. Fabio Capitanucci had a pleasant enough voice, but there wasn’t a lot of chemistry with his Nedda.

This was a very entertaining evening at the opera.

Graham Ford

Images: Geoff Dunstan, Michele McCarthy, Michael Petruccelli, Shakira Tsindos, Daniel Carison, Kate Amos and Luke Taylor, & and Victorian Opera Chorus,Kate Fryer, Geoff Dunstan, DJ Garner, and James Clayton. Photographer: Jeff Busby.