Anthony Barrese will oversee Opera Southwest's 2017 performance of Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. Pagliacci follows the drama among actors in a commedia dell'arte troupe, inspired by a real event where a cuckolded actor murdered his adulterous wife during a performance. The opera centers on Nedda, wife of Canio, who had been having an affair with Silvio. When their affair is revealed, Canio threatens Nedda and struggles to maintain his role in the play within the opera. Ultimately, in a fit of rage, Canio stabs Nedda, then murders Silvio when he tries to help her, shouting that the comedy has ended.

1. Anthony Barrese

2. Introduction
 As artistic director of Opera Southwest, Anthony Barrese oversees all
elements of company productions. He will oversee Opera Southwest's
2017 performance of Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, and the up and coming
conductor Zoe Zeniodi will lead the performances.
Composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo and originally staged in 1892,
Pagliacci follows the interpersonal drama among actors in a commedia
del arte troupe. The piece draws its inspiration from a sensational but
real event in which a cuckolded actor murdered his adulterous wife
during a performance.
The fictionalized version of this tale centers on a woman by the name
of Nedda, wife of Canio. Nedda had been concealing an affair with a
local peasant named Silvio, yet the couple's passion prevented either of
them from ending the relationship. Their secret is revealed when
another member of the company, Tonio, confesses his own love for
Nedda but is rejected.

3. Pagliacci
 Tonio then witnesses Nedda and Silvio together and attempts to
have his revenge by alerting Canio. Canio threatens Nedda,
trying to incite her to reveal the identity of her lover. He fails,
and as the show is about to begin, he must put aside his personal
pain to play the clown.
The second act of the show manifests as a play within a play.
Silvio is in the audience and Columbine plays an unfaithful wife
who is planning to poison her husband. The similarities in the
script cause Canio to break role and threaten Nedda, who resists
his departing from the script.
Enraged, Canio stabs Nedda. Silvio leaps form the crowd to assist
her, and Canio then murders him, as well. The audience is
enthralled by what they believe to be a play, until Canio
passionately shouts out that the comedy has come to an end.