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Leoncavallo - I Pagliacci / Mascagni - Cavalleria Rusticana / Domingo, Stratas, Pons, Bruson, Obraztsova, Pretre

starring: Teresa Stratas, Plácido Domingo, Juan Pons, Alberto Rinaldi (III), Florindo Andreolli
directed by: Franco Zeffirelli

Release Date June 14, 2005
Leoncavallo's Pagliacci is one of the verismo cornerstones of the Italian repertory. This performance does justice to the hot-blooded score with magnificent singing by tenor, Placido Domingo and Teresa Stratas. Conductor Georges Pretre, not usually associated with this repertoire, yet, he squeezes every white-hot passion out of this smoldering score. Add the magnificent production by Franco Zeffirelli, and you have all you need for one of the most exciting opera productions committed onto DVD. I saw this production at the Met years ago; I was elated when Deutsche Grammophon issued it.

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Mascagni - Cavalleria Rusticana / Leoncavallo - Pagliacci

starring: Placido Domingo, Teresa Stratas, Elena Obraztsova, Fedora Barbieri, Renato Bruson
directed by: Franco Zeffirelli

Release Date January 29, 2002
As you have probably noticed, Pagliacci is paired on this DVD with Cavalleria Rusticana. This is very appropriate because they are both short operas, by contemporary composers, both here directed for film by Franco Zeffirelli, and both dealing with the deadly results of jealousy.

In Pagliacci, Placido Domingo, as Canio, is caught up in the inexorable action to kill his wife Nedda (Teresa Stratas) for her infidelity. Both singers show off their refined and superlative singing and acting abilities. Juan Pons equals them in voice as he sets the machine in motion to kill the woman who has rejected him.

In Pagliacci, it's the jealous husband. In Cavalleria Rusticana, it's the female lead, Santuzza (Elena Obraztsova) who ... Read More: