Cav and Pag

Melbourne Opera presents the incomparable verismo double bill.

 

 

Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci are arguably the most famous pair of one-act operas. Better known as ‘Cav and Pag’, the operas are accessible and powerful.

 

Both operas are intense dramas of sexual jealousy and revenge, set in small Italian villages. ‘Cav and Pag’ revolutionised Italian opera and paved the way for the huge success of Puccini.

 

Pagliacci was immortalized in the climactic scenes of The Godfather 3, which take place during a performance of Pagliacci. Another famous image of Pagliacci comes from one of the most celebrated interpreters of the ole, Luciano Pavarotti, who appeared as the lead character on the cover of his Greatest Hits cd.

 

Melbourne Opera’s 2007 production of Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) was acclaimed by the critics. “Grabs the audience by the throat from the outset, another Halliday / Hocking sure fire hit” (Herald Sun) and played to packed houses both in Melbourne and on tour.

 

Now Melbourne Opera is proud to announce a new production of Pagliacci, (The Clowns) with an all-star cast featuring leading Australian baritone Gary Rowley playing the pivotal roles of Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana and Tonio in Pagliacci.

 

Rowley is joined in the double bill by a stellar cast of leading Australian singers including the fabulous Roy Best and Nick Seideman as Turiddu, Danielle Calder, Kerry Gill, Vanessa West and as Canio, the tragic clown in Pagliacci, David Rogers-Smith, alternating with Salvatore Granata. Phillip Calcagno and Sue Braatvedt also appear along with Michael Lapina, Matthew Davine, Carmela De Losinno and Barbara Zavros, featuring over 80 performers, the 40 voice Melbourne Opera Chorus, Children’s chorus and the acclaimed 42 piece Melbourne Opera Orchestra conducted by Matthew Toogood and Greg Hocking.

 

Cav and Pag will play at the Athenaeum Theatre, where their previous hit The Barber of Seville benefited from the refurbishments that include a new orchestra pit. Further improvements include new seats and new fly lines.

 

Melbourne Opera presents popular, high quality productions at reasonable prices.