Opera PAGLIACCI by Leoncavallo
Wednesday, November 26 @ 7:30 pm
Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci is a gripping masterpiece that blends raw emotion, unforgettable music, and timeless drama. Audiences should not miss the chance to experience what resonates across generations: love, betrayal, jealousy, and revenge—all set within a traveling performing troupe. The famous aria “Vesti la giubba,” where the lead character Canio sings of hiding heartbreak behind a painted smile, is one of the most iconic moments in operatic history.
Pagliacci is a perfect entry point for newcomers to opera and a thrilling favorite for seasoned fans. Its compact structure—just two acts—makes for a fast-paced, emotionally intense evening. The music is lush and dramatic, with soaring melodies and gripping orchestration that heighten every twist of the plot. Visually, productions of Pagliacci often feature vibrant costumes that contrast the colourful world of performers with the dark undercurrents of their personal lives. It’s a story that asks: what happens when the mask comes off?
Whether you’re drawn by the music, the drama, or the spectacle, Pagliacci offers a cathartic, unforgettable experience. It’s not just opera—it’s human emotion laid bare, and it will leave you breathless.
Greve Opera Academy
Founded in 2015, the Greve Opera Academy and Music Festival is a collaborative effort between the American performing organization Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, and the municipality of Greve-in-Chianti in the province of Florence. The inaugural festival featured a fully staged production of Le Nozze di Figaro performed in the Teatro Boito in Greve, the Teatro Niccolini in San Casciano and in the public square – Piazza Metteotti – of Greve, as well as additional performances in Greve and else wherei. 2016 saw performances of “La Boheme” in Greve and San Gimignano and of “Don Giovanni” in Greve, with additional concerts and recitals in Florence and Greve; and 2017 saw performances of both “Tosca” and “Cosi fan Tutte” in San Gimignano and Greve, with additional concerts and recitals in Florence and Greve. In the first three seasons, attendees have come from the US, Italy, Canada, China, Austria, Poland, Cypress and Australia.
Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra
Established in 1997, the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra is Connecticut’s premier professional chamber orchestra, based in the Greater New Britain area, and dedicated to presenting both traditional and contemporary works to the public. As artists, the Virtuosi strive to be cultural leaders and teachers and to inspire our audiences to recognize the beauty and quality of classical music in any form.
The Orchestra, led by founder and artistic director Adrian Sylveen, presents approximately ten critically acclaimed concert and opera programs each season. Virtuosi also presents eight school concerts for the New Britain Department of Education. The group performs thirty times a season in New Britain, Hartford, New London, Middletown, New York, and Waterbury. Virtuosi also presented occasional concerts in Mystic, Meriden, New York City, and Pennsylvania.