Opera Review: The Mystery of the Deadly Double

Roberto Alagna doubles up in Cav-Pag at the Met.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Ekaterina Semenchuk canoodles with Roberto Alagna in Cavelleria Rusticana, before the
star tenor goes on to sing Pagliacci (right.) Photos by Ken Howard © 2018 The Metropolitan Opera.

On Monday night, the Metropolitan Opera opened the first revival of 2018: a reprise of Sir David McVicar's 2015 production of that durable verismo twin bill: Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci. This run featured the return of Roberto Alagna to the principal tenor roles of each opera (a feat he also managed last season) against the actor who played the two antagonists in the production's premiere: baritone George Gagnidze.

Metropolitan Opera Preview: Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci

The verismo twin bill returns in darkness and light.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Roberto Alagna puts the greasepaint on as the killer clown in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.
Photo by Marty Sohl © 2016 The Metropolitan Opera.

The Metropolitan Opera revives  its 2015 staging of "Cav/Pag", the most famous double bill in opera. Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana is a story of adultery, revenge and murder (in that order) in a rural Sicilian village. Pagliacci, also  a story of adultery, revenge and murder is centered around a company of traveling players. Both operas end in bloodshed and both star tenor Roberto Alagna in the leading roles.