Pagliacci

Exclusive donorPagliacci, Ruggiero Leoncavallo’s most important opera, is packed in a suitcase – the GNO’s famous institution – and continues its Journey to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, an exclusive donation by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. This moving opera will be presented in 13 municipalities of Attica and will be complemented by educational actions jointly organised by the GNO and Future Library with the cooperation of local libraries. The opera – based on a libretto penned by Leoncavallo – deals with the tragic story of the head of a commedia del’ arte touring troupe, Canio, who has to make his audience laugh, although he has just been informed about Colombina’s infidelity, played by his wife, Nedda. “Riddi Pagliaccio”, sings heartbreakingly his aria just before the pretty and spirited Colombina finds herself vis-à-vis his fiery jealousy. The dividing line between fiction and reality begins to fade. Pagliaccio, enraged and betrayed, stabs his unfaithful wife and her lover on stage. Deeply agitated, he exclaims to the audience “La commedia è finita!”… “the show is over!”

The Suitcase Opera emerged in 2011 by the Greek National Opera as an artistic action whose pivotal objective was to fascinate a new audience by initiating it into the magical world of opera and its repertoire. The productions of the Suitcase Opera are flexible and travel to unusual places (cultural centres, museums, libraries, archaeological sites), featuring the GNO’s superb singers, accompanied by a piano instead of an orchestra, whereas all stage sets are packed in a… suitcase. After the major success of the previous Suitcase Opera productions (La Traviata, La Bohème, Don Giovanni, Carmen), the Greek National Opera presents Pagliacci, directed by Isidoros Sideris. The splendid sets and costumes bear the signature of Yannis Katranitsas and Frixos Mortzos plays the piano. With the participation of young and renowned soloists of the GNO.

Shows will be held in April and May 2016 in the municipalities of Aghia Paraskevi, Metamorphosi, Kalyvia-Saronikos, Ilioupolis, Pallini-Yerakas, Aigaleo, Psychico, Spata, Athens, Kallithea, Lykovryssi, Eleusis, Acharnes.

Free entrance with priority passes, to be distributed at the entrance one hour before the show.

Educational program for teenagers "Next stop: Opera!"
A group of teachers and GNO artists will perform on 18.05.16 at 11.00 at the Municipal Library of Athens, a two-hour experiential workshop for opera, within the framework of the "Journey to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC)" program. Aiming to introduce teenagers to the art of opera, the workshop is a synergy between the GNO and the Future Library’s network of local libraries. Idea -animation: Christina Avgeridi, Zoe Liberopoulou, Venetia Nassi, Constantina Stranis.

For more information:
Central Municipal Library
of the Organism of Culture, Sports and Youth of Municipality of Athens
Domokou 2 | tel. 2108236635