Stage Director

### Event Description: Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci at Utah Opera

#### Overview
Experience the emotional depth and dramatic intensity of Leoncavallo’s *Pagliacci* at the Utah Opera. Set in Sicily, this tragic opera reveals the dark undercurrents beneath the seemingly lighthearted life of a touring comedy troupe. The story unfolds with love triangles, secret romances, and one of the most iconic and devastatingly emotional arias of all time, encapsulating the height of drama. The intense jealousy between troupe leader Canio and his wife, Nedda, highlights the fragile interplay of love, power, and trust, juxtaposing fanciful comedy shows with the deadly consequences of the real world.

#### Performance Details
- **Dates and Showtimes:**
  - Saturday, March 08, 2025, at 7:30 PM
  - Monday, March 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM
  - Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 7:00 PM
  - Friday, March 14, 2025, at 7:30 PM
  - Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2:00 PM

- **Venue:**
  - Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
  - Address: 50 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, USA

#### Artistic Team
- **Conductor:** Joseph Colaneri
- **Stage Director:** Tara Faircloth
- **Children’s Chorus Director:** Melanie Malinka
- **Set Design:** Laura Fine-Hawkes
- **Performers:**
  - Jonathan Burton as Canio
  - Lydia Grindatto as Nedda
  - Darren Drone as Tonio
- **Featuring:** The Madeleine Choir School, Utah Opera Chorus, and Utah Symphony

#### Additional Information
- **Language:** Sung in Italian with English supertitles.
- **Ticket Sales:**
  - Season Ticket Packages: On Sale Now
  - Design-A-Series & Group Tickets: On Sale May 30, 2024
  - Single-Performance Tickets: On Sale August 1, 2024

#### Plan Your Visit
For more information on planning your visit, including seating charts, parking, directions, and accessibility, please visit the Utah Opera website.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of operatic drama and musical excellence with Leoncavallo’s *Pagliacci*. Secure your tickets now and be part of this extraordinary event.

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Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci

Capitol Theatre

At first, it might seem like a touring comedy troupe in Sicily are living a life as lighthearted as their performances, but it quickly becomes apparent that they’re trapped in a real-life tragedy. With love triangles, secret romances, and one of the most iconic (and devastatingly emotional) arias of all time, Pagliacci encapsulates the height of drama.

Leoncavallo's Pagliacci

Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre

It’s back! After rave reviews in 2018, Loving Clara Schumann returns to the stage: this fully-staged production tells the remarkable story of Clara Schumann, told through her relationships with Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms while exploring meaningful themes of mental health, human connection, and perseverance.

Loving Clara Schumann

Wortham Theater Center

When painter Cavaradossi—the lover of Rome’s enchanting diva Floria Tosca—decides to harbor a fugitive of the law, he makes himself and his beloved Tosca a target of the corrupt Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia. Now it is up to Tosca to free both her lover and herself from Scarpia’s clutches by making a horrific bargain that will have consequences for them all.

TOSCA

Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

Ars Lyrica Houston proudly presents a new production of Handel's "Amadigi di Gaula," marking the most ambitious undertaking of their 2023/24 season. This Houston premiere, directed by Tara Faircloth and conducted by Matthew Dirst, features a cast of four rising stars in the operatic world, perfectly suited to bring to life the exceptionally beautiful score of one of Handel's magic operas produced during his prolific career in London.

The performances are scheduled for Friday, May 24, 2024, and Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 7:30 pm, with a live concert broadcast from Zilkha Hall at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The cast, in order of appearance, includes Randall Scotting as Amadigi, Nicholas Garza as Dardano, Raven McMillon as Melissa, and Nola Richardson as Oriana, with additional roles and covers by Michael Skarke, Sarah Dyer, Christine Boddicker, and Joeavian Rivera.

This production promises an evening of awe with a runtime of approximately two and a half hours, including an intermission. The production team, led by Tara Faircloth (stage director) and Matthew Dirst (music director), alongside Christina Giannelli (lighting designer), Ryan McGettigan (set designer), Julius Sanchez (stage manager), Macy Lyne (costume designer), and Jenna Wallis (surtitles), ensures a visually stunning and musically enriching experience.

Tickets are available for both in-person attendance and digital access, with the latter offering a concert broadcast link emailed to digital patrons on the morning of the performance, allowing for season-long replay access.

Join Ars Lyrica Houston in celebrating their momentous 20th anniversary season with this production of "Amadigi di Gaula," a testament to their commitment to presenting world-class Baroque opera in Houston.

Amadigi di Gaula

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

This “sequel” to The Barber of Seville finds the boisterous barber, Figaro, ready to be married to his sweetheart, Susanna, as a scheming Count tries to break up the whole situation! Hilarious antics ensue—expect disguises, mistaken identities, and a lot of hiding in (and under) things—as this comedy plays out with music by one of the greatest composers of all time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro

Rediscover the simple charm of childhood wonder as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s fanciful storybook is transformed into a magical opera—perfect for the whole family!

A young prince travels the universe and, determined to be reunited with his beloved Rose, explores his new surroundings looking for a way back to his tiny asteroid home planet. During his journey, he meets a number of colorful, and often puzzling, characters—each, in turn, sharing their mite of wisdom and helping (and sometimes hindering) the Little Prince’s attempt to return to Asteroid B-612.

Rachel Portman & Nicholas Wright’s The Little Prince

A traveling troupe of commedia dell’arte brings with them not only a play that is frighteningly true to life, but also a host of secrets and jealousies. In Pagliacci—Clowns—composer Ruggero Leoncavallo created not the usual love triangle, but a love quadrangle, with three men—Canio, Tonio, and Silvio—all fighting for the love and attention of one woman, Nedda. Using the classic ‘play within a play’ format, the real lives of the characters act as a mirror to their parts in the play, with tragic consequences. As the on-stage drama melds with real-life passions, the two stories explode in a finale of manipulation, jealousy, violence, and of course, death. This is commedia after all.

Pagliacci

Long Center for the Performing Arts

Mozart’s beloved classic, The Magic Flute, is a fairytale of darkness and light, which explores the journey in search of truth and reason, love and enlightenment.

As the action unfolds, Tamino, a prince lost in a foreign land, is pursued by a terrifying monster. He is rescued by three mysterious ladies, who kill the monster and give Tamino a picture of Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night, with whom he falls instantly in love. They tell him that Pamina has been captured by the powerful and evil Sarastro, and Tamino vows to rescue her.

With the gift of a magic flute and magic bells, as well as the light-hearted assistance of the bird-catcher, Papageno, Tamino sets off on his dangerous quest. However, he soon discovers that nothing, not even Day and Night, is quite as it first appears.

The Magic Flute

Symphony Hall

Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

Prepare to be swept away by one of opera’s most tragic love stories.  The tale of the stunning courtesan Violetta and the hopelessly romantic Alfredo is woven with some of the best-known music in the repertoire.  La Traviata’s high points are matched with tears in the tragic end.

La Traviata

Dominion Energy Center

Julia Roberts would never have wooed Richard Gere, and Nicole Kidman wouldn’t have rocked the Moulin Rouge without La Traviata! Prepare to be swept away by one of opera’s most tragic love stories and the inspiration for these two iconic films: Pretty Woman and Moulin Rouge! The tale of the stunning courtesan Violetta and the hopelessly romantic Alfredo is woven with some of the best-known music in the repertoire. La Traviata’s high points are matched with tears in the tragic end. See for yourself why this story endures!

George Mason University

Harrison Opera House

Set in a time of speakeasies and extravagance, Verdi’s most popular and intimate opera is transported to the Roaring 1920s. At the center of the glitz and glamour is one of opera’s foremost leading ladies, Violetta Valéry.  Known for her legendary parties, the famous courtesan is accustomed to the affection of others, but the young and passionate Alfredo stirs new emotions and a desire to be truly loved. Will Violetta risk it all for this new love?   From high flying melodies, and raucous drinking songs, to soul-baring duets and emotional ensembles, the music of Verdi’s La Traviata perfectly underscores the heights of love and the depths of sacrifice. Experience one of opera’s greatest stories and scores live at the Granada Theatre.  Kostis Protopapas conducts Verdi for the first time at Opera Santa Barbara.  Tara Faircloth (La Rondine, ‘17) directs this new production with scenic & projection design by François-Pierre Couture (Das Rheingold, ’21). Returning to OSB as Violetta is Anya Matanovic, last seen as Abigail Williams in The Crucible. Nathan Granner (Rodolfo, La bohème ’18) plays Alfredo, and baritone Joel Balzun makes his OSB debut as Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont. The production will feature dancers from State Street Ballet.

Granada Theatre

Discover Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, a stirring saga of love, bravery, and the quest for justice. In this heroic tale, Leonore goes undercover, disguised as a guard named Fidelio, to infiltrate a corrupt prison and rescue her wrongfully accused husband, Florestan.

It’s an emotional journey that reflects Beethoven’s idealism, echoing his own conviction that good will triumphs over tyranny. With the hopeful “Prisoners’ Chorus” and soaring overture, Fidelio is a testament to Beethoven’s musical genius—be the first to experience this brand-new production, incorporating modernized dialogue and thought-provoking projections that underscore the power of the human spirit.

Stage Director

Tara Faircloth

Events

Upcoming events

17 - 25 Jan, 2026

Beethoven's Fidelio · Utah Opera

Past events

8 - 16 Mar, 2025

Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci · Utah Opera

8 - 16 Mar, 2025

Leoncavallo's Pagliacci · Utah Symphony

About

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