Pagliacci
Teatro Alfonso Rendano Cosenza 2009
PAGLIACCI
by Ruggero Leoncavallo
direction Roberta Cortese
conduction Daniele Agiman
set design Aldo Zucco
costume design Aldo Zucco and Roberta Cortese
light design Paolo Carbone
with Denia Mazzola Gavazzeni, Nicola Martinucci, Stefano Anselmi, Francesco Zingariello, Carlo Morini
My production of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci explored the timeless theme of human madness leading to tragedy. Set in a sanatorium with an ambiguous time period, it emphasized the eternal struggle of the human psyche.
The scenography featured stark, white sets, with dynamic lighting filtering through a multilayered, torn backdrop resembling a spider’s web. In contrast, the soloists’ costumes were black and deliberately ‘private’ in appearance.
The performance began with the soloists in the proscenium, Brechtian style like, ready to step onto the stage, establishing the tension between their private selves and those very dramatic roles. The contrast between the neutral sets and the vivid lighting created a powerful atmosphere, underscoring the emotional intensity and descent into madness that culminates in the finale.
