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The Mapleson Cylinders - Program Notes

Libretti

Leoncavallo: PAGLIACCI [Includes RealAudio Selections]

Band 4

Band 4

Act I: Scene 1 excerpt: "A ventitrč ore!"..."e a Tonio, [e un poco a tutti or parlo!]" parlo!]"

Albert Alvarez (t), Canio

Albert Reiss (t), Beppe

Antonio Scotti (b), Tonio

Unidentified (t, b), Two Villagers

Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra--

Phillippe Flon

February 7 (matinee), 1903

[Dated snake and slip; Glackens 107.]

A troupe of strolling players (the leader Canio, his wife Nedda, the misshapen Tonio, and the amiable Beppe) have just arrived in the village, and Canio is finishing his pitch for the evening's performance.

[original]

CHORUS

A ventitrč ore!

CANIO
A ventitrč ore!

CHORUS
A ventitrč ore! ( Tonio tries to help Nedda down from the cart: Canio boxes his ears, and helps her down himself. )

CANIO
Via di lė!

CHORUS
Ah! Ah! Ah! ( to Tonio )
Prendi questo, bel galante!

BOYS
Con salute!

TONIO
La pagherai! brigante!

A VILLAGER ( to Canio )
Di,' con noi vuoi bevere
un buon bicchiere sulla crocevia?
Di,' vuoi tu?

CANIO
Con piacere.

BEPPE
Aspettatemi. Anch'io ci sto!

CANIO
Di,' Tonio, vieni via?

TONIO ( from within )
Io netto il somarello. Precedetemi.

ANOTHER VILLAGER
Bada, Pagliaccio, ei sole vuol restare
per far la corte a Nedda!

CANIO
Vi pare?
Un tal gioco, credetemi,
č meglio non giocarlo con me, miei cari;
e a Tonio, [e un poco a tutti or parlo!]

[translation]

CHORUS

At seven tonight!

CANIO
At seven tonight!

CHORUS
At seven tonight! ( Tonio tries to help Nedda down from the cart: Canio boxes his ears, and helps her down himself. )

CANIO
Off with you!

CHORUS
Ha! Ha! Ha! ( to Tonio )
Take that, you fine gallant!

BOYS
Our compliments!

TONIO
You'll pay! Bandit!

A VILLAGER ( to Canio )
Say, would you like to drink
a glass with us at the crossroads?
Say, would you?

CANIO
With pleasure.

BEPPE
Wait for me. I'll be there too.

CANIO
Say, Tonio, will you come?

TONIO ( from within )
I'll groom the donkey. Go ahead.

ANOTHER VILLAGER
Careful, Pagliaccio--he wants to be alone
to pay court to Nedda!

CANIO
You think so?
A game like that, believe me,
you'd best not play with me, my friends;
I'm speaking to Tonio, and a bit to all of you!