Luciano Pavarotti Vesti La Giubba Pagliacci Leoncavallo
Recitar!… mentre preso dal delirio
non so più quel che dico
e quel che faccio!
Eppur… è d’uopo… sforzati!
Bah! Sei tu forse un uom?
Tu se' Pagliaccio!
Vesti la giubba,
e la faccia infarina.
La gente paga e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin
t’invola Colombina,
ridi, Pagliacco, e ognun applaudirà!
Tramuta in lazzi
lo spasmo ed il pianto,
in una smorfia il singhiozzo
e’l dolor — Ah!
Ridi, Pagliaccio,
sul tuo amore infranto.
Ridi del duol che t’avvelena il cor.
Synopses
Canio, his wife nedda, and their troupe perform adulterous
Comedies in their traveling shows. This time, though, life imitates art. canio
Has just been warned that nedda is in the arms of another man. When canio
Arrives, the man is gone. Tell me his name! he threatens. Just at
That moment, they announce, it’s show time!
English translation
Go on stage, while I’m nearly delirious?
I don’t know what I’m saying or what I’m doing!
And yet, chin up! I’ll try harder. Bah, you think you’re a man?
You are just a clown! on with the show, man,
And put on your white-face.
The people pay you and you must make them laugh.
And if harlequin should steal your columbine, laugh,
You’re pagliaccio, and the world will clap for you!
Turn into banter all your pain and sorrow,
And with your clowns’ face hide grief and distress...
