Overview
The story is set in southern Italy and recounts the tragedy of Canio, the lead clown (or pagliaccio in Italian) in a commedia dell'arte troupe, his wife Nedda, and her lover, Silvio. When Nedda spurns the advances of Tonio, another player in the troupe, he tells Canio about Nedda's betrayal. In a jealous rage Canio murders both Nedda and Silvio. Although Leoncavallo's opera was originally set in the late 1860's, Zeffirelli's production is updated to the period between World War I and World War II.
Cast
- Teresa Stratas as Nedda
- Plácido Domingo as Canio
- Juan Pons as Tonio
- Florindo Andreolli as Peppe
- Alberto Rinaldi as Silvio
- Alfredo Pistone
- Ivan Del Manto
- Georges Prêtre as Self - Conductor
- Orchestra della Scala as Self - Chorus