Two compositions in a single evening: the Kraków Opera presents the diptych of Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (dir. Włodzimierz Nurkowski, music direction Tomasz Tokarczyk). Leoncavallo’s masterpiece tells the tragic tale of a love triangle: a play performed by a travelling troupe of actors turns into real life when the protagonist murders his unfaithful wife and her lover. Puccini single-act opera is a light-hearted allegory on avarice, cunning and even greater avarice: a family greedy for a dead relative’s wealth falsifies his will and ends up getting duped themselves. The common denominator of the two operas are “extreme emotions which can become a source of destruction, devouring people and devastating their lives,” explain the organisers. Hidden motives, intrigue, lies, duplicity… Music is the beautiful medium describing these darker sides of human nature, with Leoncavallo reaching for folk motifs and early gavottes and Puccini giving his protagonists short, rhythmic themes. The performance at the Kraków Opera also features spectacular displays spanning the boundaries of breakdance, circus acrobatics and illusion. (Barbara Skowrońska)

Composers: Ruggero Leoncavallo / Giacomo Puccini
Direction: Włodzimierz Nurkowski
Musical direction: Tomasz Tokarczyk 
Set design and costumes: Anna Sekuła
Choirmaster: Jacek Mentel

Premiere: 23 March 2018