USA: PLACIDO DOMINGO AND FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI PREPARE FOR THE LOS ANGELES OPERA'S 'PAGLIACCI'

Record ID: 386555

  • Title: USA: PLACIDO DOMINGO AND FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI PREPARE FOR THE LOS ANGELES OPERA'S 'PAGLIACCI'
  • Date: 1st September 1996
  • Summary: ZEFFIRELLI SAYING HE'S MOVED AND EXCITED, THAT ON A TECHNICAL AND ARTISTIC IT'S THE BEST REHEARSAL HE'S SEEN (ENGLISH) DOMINGO TALKING TO FANS DOMINGO SAYING IT HAS BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY REHEARSAL OF A MAGIC PRODUCTION. THIS IS THE DRAMA OF EVERYBODY, OF COURSE THE PREMIERE WAS IN 1892, BUT IT IS A DRAMA THAT COULD HAPPEN ANY DAY AND THE STRENGTH IS EXACTLY THERE. AND IN
  • Embargoed: 16th September 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA4ZN283XRYYWHIYGIRBQE8P2WT
  • Story Text: Placido Domingo led the dress rehearsal for the Los Angeles Opera's "Pagliacci" at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Sunday (September 1, 1996) The production is a collaboration between the world-renowned tenor and one of opera's most reputable director's, Franco Zeffirelli.

    "Pagliacci" marks the opening of the season for L.A. Opera which has been closely associated with Domingo since its creation in 1984. In his capacity as Artistic Advisor and Principal Guest Conductor, Domingo will also conduct Vincenzo Bellini's opera Norma on September 5-21.

    Ruggero Leoncavallo's 18th century opera, "Pagliacci" is new to the L.A. Opera's repertoire and is regarded as a prime example of verismo opera. It is the story of Canio (Domingo), the leader of a troupe of travelling clowns who finds out that his wife Nedda (performed by soprano Veronica Villarroel) is having an affair.

    Canio must put on his clown's face for the evening's performance and attempt to entertain while struggling with his emotions. In the last scene of Act I, Domingo performs the famous aria "Vesti la giubba,"where he expresses his dispair.

    In a play-within-a-play set-up in the second and final act Canio tries to extract the name of Nedda's lover while performing their clown-act in front of the village crowd. Real life catches up with the entertainers and events come to a tragic end when Canio stabs Nedda and her lover, who rushes onto the set. As the curtains fall, Canio announces, "La commedia e finita(" (the comedy is over() Zeffirelli's production is set in a modern-day setting with costumes and props that reflect small-town life in 90's Italy.

    Domingo and the director have not worked together since making the movie Otello ten years ago. They are scheduled to collaborate at The Met, New York later in the season for a production of "Carmen."
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