Leoncavallo/I Pagliacci (Molinari-Pradelli, 1959)

Italian composer, Ruggiero Leoncavallo's opera "I Pagliacci/Clowns" (complete). One of the early masterpieces of verismo (realism) opera, along with Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana". Often performed with "Cavalleria Rusticana" in one night (so-called 'Cav and Pag'). Mario Del Monaco (tenor), Cornell MacNeil (baritone), Gabriella Tucchi (soprano) and others. Francesco Molinari-Pradelli conducts Coro e Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma. The highlights are Del Monaco's vivid singings (at the age of 44) in the last of the Act 1 "Vesti la giubba/Put on your costume" and the last of the Act 2 "No! Pagliaccio non son/I'm not the Clown!".