With a voice that’s big, warm, and full, with an emotional pull that draws any audience into his orbit whenever he’s onstage, Russell Thomas has made a strong impression on Lyric audiences.
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August 2021
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August 2021
Pagliacci
Leoncavallo's searing drama Pagliacci returns to the Lyric stage for the first time in more than a decade. Performed and filmed in the Lyric Opera House, this production is now available to watch. Music Director Enrique Mazzola conducts a powerhouse cast including Russell Thomas, Ailyn Pérez, Lucas Meachem, Quinn Kelsey, and Eric Ferring with members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
In Pagliacci, Canio manages a small touring company of actors. In the town where they're about to perform, he's enraged to discover that his wife Nedda, the company's leading actress, has fallen in love with a handsome young man from the town, Silvio, and is planning to run away with him. Canio, the clown, laughs on the outside, but inside, he's seething with jealousy that culminates in searing passion, riveting drama, and unforgettably thrilling music.
Viewing of the film is free, but requires registration to access.
Articles
If you're craving operatic drama in the comfort of your own home, then look no further! Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, an original Lyric film, is now available free of charge for virtual streaming. See a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of this production and reserve your tickets to the free digital stream.
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In the late 19th century, Italian opera took a step away from fantastical stories of gods and monsters to focus on real life. Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci is a perfect example of this style — dubbed "verismo", which translates to "realism" — as the opera is based on an actual crime from the composer's childhood.
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Meet the artists
Lyric's filmed production of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and other programming innovations from Lyric Opera of Chicago is generously made possible by
Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel
Patricia A. Kenney & Gregory J. O’Leary
Susan & Robert Morrison
Anonymous Donor
Virginia Tobiason
Maestro Enrique Mazzola is generously sponsored by
Alice & John Butler
Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel
Robert & Penelope Steiner Family Foundation
The Enrique Circle is comprised of Lyric’s most dedicated supporters who are committed to championing Maestro Enrique Mazzola's exciting artistic vision and legacy.