Wednesday 11 August 2010
Tune of the Day: Vesti la giubba
from “Pagliacci”, arranged for Flute and Piano
“Vesti la giubba” (“Put on the costume”) is a famous tenor aria performed as part of the opera Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo. It is sung at the end of the first act, when Canio discovers his wife's infidelity but must nevertheless prepare for his performance as Pagliaccio the clown because “the show must go on”.
Since the first performance of Pagliacci in 1892, this aria in particular has ingrained itself well into popular culture, and has often been featured in many renditions, mentions, and spoofs over the years. The 1904 recording by Enrico Caruso was the first million-selling record in history.