Opera, how SWPL of me.
I had a conversation with a buddy of mine years ago about art and music. He enjoyed the abstract. You know, paint a bunch of vertical lines on a canvas in various colors and call it art. Better yet, weld together an iron cube, set it on a point, magenetize it and throw a bunch of metal shavings on it for effect. For orchestral music, this would be the discordant crap that seemed to be in vogue during the second half of the 20th century.
I on the other hand desired a visceral connection to the art. I wanted to understand not just the emotional sense and/or sound that the artist was portraying, but also to connect the art to my own framework and perceptions. For me, the more abstract the art becomes, the less I am interested in it. I have no illusions that mine is a unique position.
Vesti la Giubba is an easily recognizable aria from Pagliacci. A powerful piece regardless of whether you understand the words or not. Canio has been betrayed by his wife, Nedda, whom he thought was faithful. Upon discovering her infidelity he sings:
Canio
Recitar! Mentre presso 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, Pagliaccio… e ognun applaudirà!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto;
in una smorfia il singhiozzo e’l dolor…
Ridi, Pagliaccio, sul tuo amore in franto!
Ridi del duol t’avvelena il cor!
Translation:
To act!
While gripped by frenzy,
I no longer know
what I’m saying or doing!
And yet…I must… force yourself!
Bah, are you a man?
You’re a clown!
Put on your costume
and powder your face.
The audience pays and wants to laugh.
And if Arlecchino
steals Colombina from you,
laugh, Pagliaccio
and everyone will applaud!.
Turn into jest your anguish and your sorrow,
into a grimace your sobs and your grief.
Laugh, clown, at your broken love,
laugh at the pain which poisons your heart!
Tell me a man who hasn’t been betrayed doesn’t understand this on a gut level. You can tell me, but I won’t believe you.
