Conductor

Art imitates life in English Touring Opera’s new production of Pagliacci.

When Canio, leader of a theatre troupe, sees his life reflected in rehearsals for an upcoming opera, he becomes convinced that his wife is having an affair. Can Canio temper his spiralling emotions, or will his jealousy get the better of him?

Ripped from the headlines about a real-life crime case from composer Ruggero Leoncavallo’s own childhood, Pagliacci packs passion, melodrama and revenge into an intense 90 minutes of drama. 

Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci

When Canio, leader of a theatre troupe, sees his life reflected in rehearsals for an upcoming opera, he becomes convinced that his wife is having an affair. Can Canio temper his spiralling emotions, or will his jealousy get the better of him?

Art imitates life in English Touring Opera’s new production of Pagliacci. Ripped from the headlines about a real-life crime case from composer Ruggero Leoncavallo’s own childhood, Pagliacci packs passion, melodrama and revenge into an intense 90 minutes of drama. Eleanor Burke (founder of the pioneering sustainable opera company, Green Opera) makes her directorial debut with ETO alongside ETO Music Director Gerry Cornelius.

EPSG:4326

Pagliacci

Gala Theatre & Cinema

Buxton Opera House

King's College, Cambridge

Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

Storyhouse Chester

Hackney Empire

Norwich Theatre Royal

Lyceum Theatre

Hall for Cornwall

ETO’s critically acclaimed production is presented in a double bill with Do not take my story for a fairytale, a new staging of song cycles and cantatas exploring love, isolation and the terrible wonder of the natural world.

Blond Eckbert: Double Bill

The Marlowe Theatre

English Touring Opera

Conductor

Gerry Cornelius

Events

Past events

May 1, 2026

Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci · The Marlowe Theatre

Mar 21 - May 20, 2026

Pagliacci · English Touring Opera

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Pagliacci by Leoncavallo

The Marlowe Theatre

About

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