San Diego Opera: Pagliacci at San Diego Civic Theatre

Pagliacci

If you have never been to the opera because you feel that it is “sweet and soppy”, “way too serious”, “boring”, or “doesn’t have any nice music in it”, we’d encourage you to reconsider, because what the San Diego Opera has up their sleeves for the 2026/2027 season promises to change minds and perspectives quite drastically. 

The San Diego Opera is known to breathe life into some of the world’s greatest operatic repertoire with skill, wonderful creative execution, and extraordinary approaches - and that is one of the reasons why this season’s production of Ruggero Leoncavallo verismo-opera Pagliacci in two acts is an absolute must-see. The incredible orchestra is set to be conducted by maestro Yves Abel, and the production as a whole is directed by visionary director Christopher Mattaliano. Pagliacci will be performed in Italian, with translations in English and Spanish projected above the stage.

Pagliacci is a tragicomedy - a play within a play, following the tale of a travelling commedia dell’arte troupe whose leader and main actor, Canio, learns about his wife’s unfaithfulness, resulting in the unthinkable: murder.  

Underneath a relatively dark opera with themes of lovers, liars, revenge, and clowns, lies one of opera’s most gorgeous scores, masterfully composed by Leoncavallo at the peak of the Romantic era. Pagliacci, with its lush romantic melodies, incredible orchestration, stunning mix of voices, had its premiere in 1892 at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan, quickly becoming a much-adored addition to operatic favorites. To date, Pagliacci has been produced over 40 times around the world - an indication of exactly how long a way killer-clowns have come. The opera boasts glorious, beloved arias, such as Stridono lassu, Ballatella, and of course, the highly anticipated tenor aria Vesti la giubba, containing the famous line “the show must go on”. 

The San Diego Civic Theatre

The San Diego Civic Theatre is one of the most iconic and largest performing arts venues on the West Coast, annually hosting world-renowned acts of all kinds. The venue boasts state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, perfect acoustics, and fantastic amenities, as well as luxurious seats for up to 2,900 patrons spread across an orchestra floor, dress circle, mezzanine, and balcony, ensuring those crystal-clear sight-lines that makes the San Diego Civic Theatre a much sought-after venue. 

Treat yourself - come on out for a night at the opera!