It's a bit late in the day for me to have discovered this fine film version of "Pagliacci" (1947), but I'm happy to have found it because I do admire Tito Gobbi in all his roles.
The versatility of Tito Gobbi is truly remarkable. He plays two characters in this very realistic version, no frills, just the real dramatic story. As Tonio he is the simpleton who harbours a great love for Nedda (Gina Lollobrigida) but unfortunately she is the wife of Canio. She also treats lowly Tonio with considerable disdain when he has declared himself to her, and she scornfully whips him at one point and then he leaves humiliated but determined on vengeance. In his secondary role, Gobbi as Silvio is the dashing, very handsome villager who is Nedda's lover and wants her to run away with him that very evening. Nedda is uncertain but promises to meet Silvio after the evening's performance. and so they ecstatically sing of a beautiful future together. They, Tito and Lola, make a handsome pair on screen in this episode but musically I prefer the Corelli/Gobbi version on DVD (1954) in which Nedda, performed by Mafalda Micheluzzi, is wonderfully inspired in her joyful singing in anticipation, truly one of those special moments to be remembered afterwards.
Afro Poli as Canio, master of the company of strolling players, is the tortured soul, and his singing is done by Masini here. It seems a bit confusing to have separate actors in all phases and separate singing voices but one gets used to it. Gobbi is however himself in all acting and singing, and a marvellous voice it is.
It is in Act 2 that we hear Beppe, tenor, dressed as Harlequin, (acted by Morucci and sung by Gino Sinimberghi), sing a Serenade to his fair Columbine, Nedda. Abruptly Canio, who plays the role of Pagliaccio, Columbine's husband, suddenly appears on the scene. Harlequin runs away, and then the real life drama overwhelms Canio as he demands Nedda reveal the name of her lover. Catastrophe follows.
This drama was actually based on a true life incident which took place in Montalto in Calabria, where the composer Ruggiero Leoncavallo's father had been a district judge. Life can be stranger than fiction at times.
The opera was first performed in Milan in 1892 and was considered a fine example of 'verismo' opera. Unfortunately, while critics down through the years were not favourably impressed, the operatic 'greats' of the day, Caruso among them, loved to sing it and this sustained its popularity. Today's critics tend to regard it in a more kindly light, as being a 'powerful work' of unusual expressive quality. It's very grand how Gobbi sings the Prologue at the beginning. To me that's the finest moment!
