Canio

Canio (Leoncavallo: Pagliacci). Tenor. Husband of Nedda. Leader of a troupe of strolling players. One of his players, Tonio, himself in love with Nedda, tells Canio that she is having an affair with a villager, Silvio. During a performance of their play, Canio (as Pagliaccio) orders Nedda (as Columbine) to reveal the name of her lover. When she refuses, he stabs her. Silvio tries to save her and Canio kills him also. Canio tells the audience: La commedia è finita (‘The comedy is ended’). Aria: Vesti la giubba (‘On with the motley’), sung as he prepares to play the clown, despite his desolation over his wife's affair. Created (1892) by Fiorello Giraud.