In a coloratura aria accompanied by piano, a soprano character with this profession sings about her many flings to cheer up a “mighty princess.” Another soprano in this profession repeats the words “e van!” (“eh VAHN”) to end an F-sharp major aria in which she trills to imitate birds. An opera company clashes with Zerbinetta and other characters with this profession in Ariadne auf Naxos. A woman with this profession is frightened by the “fire” in her husband’s gaze but comforted by screeching birds in the aria (*) “Stridono lassù.” (“stree-doh-NOH la-SOO”) Tonio reminds the audience that people in this profession “are men… like you” in that opera’s prologue, which begins with the words, “Si può?” Another character with this profession stabs his wife Nedda and her lover Silvio before declaring, “La commedia è finita!” Canio sings “Vesti la giubba” (“JOO-bah”) before going to work as, for 10 points, what title profession of Ruggero Leoncavallo’s opera Pagliacci ■END■
ANSWER: commedia dell’arte actors [or commedia dell’arte performers; accept clowns or comedians; accept pagliacci or pagliaccio until “Pagliacci” is read; reject “(court) jesters” or “fools”]
<IZ, Other Arts: Auditory>
= Average correct buzz position