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Opera

Pagliacci / Cavalleria rusticana

Ruggero Leoncavallo, Pietro Mascagni

Premiere performances: 15 and 17 June 2023 at the State Opera

The State Opera
English surtitles

Choose date

  • March
  • February 2025
  • April 2025
    March 2024

    Sunday 31. 3.
    18:00

    Tickets available

    English surtitles
    February 2025

    Friday 28. 2.
    19:00

    Currently subscription sale only More about subscription

    English surtitles
    April 2025

    Thursday 10. 4.
    19:00

    Currently subscription sale only More about subscription

    English surtitles

    Basic information

    Venue

    The State Opera

    Approximate running time

    3 hours, 1 intermission (30 minutes) minutes

    Language

    In Italian, surtitles in Czech, English

    Premiere

    June 15, 2023

    Two famous Italian operas depicting dramatic stories of passionate love and fatal jealousy staged at the State Opera, a production featuring engrossing chorus scenes, forcible arias and Mascagni’s celebrated Intermezzo.

    Cast

    • 2023-2024
    • 2024-2025

    Creatives

    Stage director
    Ondřej Havelka
    Set design
    Martin Černý
    Costume design
    Jana Zbořilová
    Choreography
    Jana Hanušová
    Motion cooperation
    Jiří Bilbo Reidinger
    Light design
    Pavel Dautovský
    Video projection
    Diviš Marek
    Chorus master
    Adolf Melichar

    About

    State Opera Chorus
    State Opera Orchestra
    National Theatre Opera Ballet
    Pupils of the Olga Kyndlová Ballet School

    When, in 1888, the music publisher Edoardo Sonzogno announced a competition for young Italian composers, who were invited to submit a one-act opera, he had not the slightest inkling that the victorious piece would become a timeless blockbuster. The 25-year-old Pietro Mascagni sent Cavalleria rusticana, which he had just completed. The premiere, in 1890 in Rome, was a true sensation, and the verismo opera, depicting ordinary contemporary people, villagers and low social classes, would remain Mascagni’s greatest success. Ruggero Leoncavallo decided to follow suit and duly composed his very first opera, Pagliacci, in the verismo style. Premiered in 1892 in Milan, the piece met with an enthusiastic response. In 1893, the two operas were first staged as a double bill, and ever since they have been frequently performed together.

    Pagliacci tells the tale of Canio, an actor who kills his attractive young wife Nedda and her lover on stage during a performance. In Cavalleria rusticana, the frivolous Lola re-establishes a relationship with her former lover, whom her husband kills in accordance with an ancient Sicilian custom. Both stories end with a jealousy-fuelled murder. The new production of the two operatic gems has been undertaken by the renowned Czech stage director, actor and musician Ondřej Havelka.

    WARNING: A shot is fired at the end of the performance.
    Suitable for audience from 12 years.

    The production has been financially supported by the National Theatre Benefactors’ Club.

    Synopsis Pagliacci
    Synopsis Cavalleria rusticana

    Photo and video gallery

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    Goods detail

    A poster of Pagliacci / Cavalleria rusticana

    A poster for the production of Pagliacci / Cavalleria rusticana

    119 Kč

    Last item in stock

    Partners
    Pagliacci / Cavalleria rusticana
    The National Theatre Benefactors’ Club

    Practical information

    Where to buy tickets

    The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance. We are currently selling tickets for performances of Drama, Ballet, Opera and Laterna magika taking place in March-August 2024.


    When purchasing online, you can get an e-ticket. You can pick up printed tickets in person at the box offices of the National Theatre.

    What to wear?

    By their appearance, attire and behaviour, the audience is obliged to adhere to the accustomed practice expected from them when attending a theatre performance.

    Parking at the State opera

    While visiting the State Opera, you can take the slip road on Wilsonova street from the left lane close to the State Opera building to the Parking Centrum above-ground garage. The parking fee is 40 CZK/h.

    Buffets at the State Opera

    No waiting. For your benefit, please pre-order your food and beverages at the bar to minimize waiting in the queue!

    Menu (PDF, 60 kB)