English Opera Translations
by Ken Jakobs  


Home

Opera in English

Librettos/Scores

Rights/
Commissions

Contact Me



La Boheme

Don Giovanni

Gianni Schicchi

Madam Butterfly

The Marriage of
Figaro

The Clowns
(I Pagliacci)
The Clowns (I Pagliacci)
by Ruggiero Leoncavallo
    "So you must prepare yourselves to witness the passions of real
men and women!"

    Tonio's Prologue is the veritable manifesto of the verismo
movement.  The quintessential opera of that genre, The Clowns is
all the more poignant and shocking in English.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Act I  Canio:  "Recitar...Vesti la giubba..."
   "Play your part, while you’re writhing in torment!  You won’t
know what you’re doing, or what you’re saying.  It must be done!  
Force yourself!  Well, are you not a man?  No, just a clown!

   Put on your costume, and whiten your face.  The people pay you
and must be entertained!   And when Arlecchino steals your
Colombina, laugh and play the fool, and they will all applaud!  Just
make a joke of your tears and anguish.  Conceal your grief and
your sobs with a grin.  For you are Pagliaccio!  Though your life has
been shattered, laugh through the pain that is stabbing your
heart!"
Copyright Kenneth Jakobs 2003-2004   All rights reserved