Leonacavallo drew inspiration for this crucial work of Italian verismo from an actual event—an act of murder he witnessed during his childhood in Calabria. "I Pagliacci" brings to the stage themes typical of its era, featuring characters from lower social classes whose sufferings are profound and often violent, depicted in a naturalistic style. By weaving a story of jealousy, infidelity, and murder within a traveling troupe of actors, he created a dramatic and emotional "theatre within a theatre." The famous aria "Vesti la giubba," sung by the tragic character Canio, has immortalized some of the greatest names in opera history.
"I have extensive experience with this title. It embodies pure naturalism, with the orchestra providing descriptive sound rather than mere accompaniment, and the vocal roles exhibit great extremes. I am delighted with the cast; these voices perfectly align with the composer's intentions," said Maestro Lipanović.
"When I began studying this opera, I found many fascinating facts. 'I Pagliacci' was the first opera to be entirely recorded acoustically, and about thirty years later, it became the first opera filmed. It remains trendy and influential in popular culture today. Unfortunately, it is particularly relevant now due to the theme of femicide, depicting a toxic relationship where the main character's jealousy leads to the murder of a woman. It is a privilege to work with such an ensemble and top-notch soloists; I enjoy the rehearsals. Together with a stellar theatre team and guests, we have decided to enhance the cast with the Circus Collective, a rare talent in our region that several HNK Split Ballet members have joined. I believe this ensemble will fulfill the task set by the theatre management—to create a performance for which the audience will eagerly seek tickets," emphasized director Mario Kovač.
Tenor Ivan Momirov, who has performed on prestigious opera stages worldwide, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London, Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, and the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, takes on the role of Canio: "Croatia has provided me with many opportunities for significant debuts in my career. For instance, after singing Turandot in Split, I performed the role of Calaf around the world. I haven't sung in Split for five years and am thrilled to be here. 'I Pagliacci' and 'Andrea Chenier' are the most beautiful verismo operas."