jmc's classics
Today is August 15. The feast of the Dormition or Assumption of the Virgin Mary which is a holiday in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. In most predominantly Orthodox Countries and some Catholic countries this is a major holiday. It is also the setting of one of the most iconic operas I Pagliacci by Ruggerio Leoncavallo. It is a two act opera that lasts about an hour. it is often paired with Calveria Rusticanna by Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945). They are also considered the "Simese twins of opera" Leoncacallo, Mascagne and Umberto Giordono (1867-1948 are all considered "One hit wonders of classical music.
Leoncavallo wrote other operas as well as operettas songs and one or two tone poems. His most famous other opera is Zaza about a Paris France show girl. There has been some attempts to revive the opera Zaza. There are two recordings available on Arkiv music. The events of the opera I Pagliacci (the Players) are based on an event that Leoncavallo saw when he was eight years old. The Opera centers around a group of clowns in a traveling troupe. They stage a play and the leader of the troupe suspects that his wife who is part of the troupe is having an affair and he wants to know who she is having the affair with. Canio the leader of the troupe sings the Iconic aria "Vesti la Giuba" or the sobbing song when he finds out that his wife is having an affair. This is one of the most famous arias. It was used in a commercial for BEst Buy about 20 years ago. There are many recording available. The copy that I have is from the 1982 film by Franco Zaferelli with Placido Domingo, Juan Pons and Theresa Stratas.
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