DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Lifestyle
Events & Festivals
Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana at the Dutch National Opera

Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana at the Dutch National Opera

Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana at the Dutch National Opera


Sep 05-28, 2019
Various prices

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:

More events

See all events
Art showdown where your vote decides the winner: Art Battle Amsterdam
Jun 29, 2025
Pllek, T.T. Neveritaweg 59, 1033 WB,
International pop, jazz & techno! SummerConcerts at The Concertgebouw
Jul 01-Aug 31, 2025
The Concertgebouw, Concertgebouwplein 10, 1071 LN
Musicals, movies and videogames! SummerConcerts at The Concertgebouw
Jul 01-Aug 31, 2025
The Concertgebouw, Concertgebouwplein 10, 1071 LN
Pop, jazz and soul at the SummerConcerts Basement Sessions
Jul 01-Aug 31, 2025
Koorzaal, Concertgebouwplein 10, 1071 LN
See all events
You might be interested in
Freebies & giveawaysSightseeing & attractionsAbout the NetherlandsDutch cities
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Dutch National Opera and Ballet, Amstel 3, 1011 PN Amsterdam

The Dutch National Opera presents one of the most famous double bills in the history of opera, Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana. In fact, these two operas are so commonly shown together that they’re often referred to as simply “Cav and Pag”. 

These two towering masterpieces of Italian opera are bursting with drama, love, infidelity, betrayal, jealousy and murder. 

Dutch National Opera Amsterdam

A juicy and voluptuous must-see

Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci (Clowns) go hand-in-hand. This is an opera double-bill for those who like something juicy and voluptuous with a good balance of murder, jealousy, romance and to-die-for melodies! 

We’ve all been there: wondering what good shows, films or concerts are on and asking ourselves “should I or shouldn’t I?” For those who are not regular opera-goers, there’s a lot of research to be done before flirting with the idea of buying an opera ticket. Well, this double bill will make it easy for you to decide: it is a must-see!

With stage direction by Robert Carsen, there's a masterful game being played on stage. His vision deliberately avoids cliches: no commedia dell'arte costumes in Pagliacci and no Sicilian-looking set design for Cavalleria Rusticana.

A new chief conductor

The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is the resident orchestra of the Dutch National Opera and has been for over 30 years. In the 2019-2020 season, the orchestra welcomes its brand new chief conductor, Lorenzo Viotti, who kicks off this new position with Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana - a pivotal moment for the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dutch National Opera.

Italian opera that's more familiar than you may have thought

Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana are such mainstays in the opera sphere that they have even seeped into popular culture. The way that operatic music has been employed in cinema has meant that, over the years, opera has reached more people than it usually gets credit for.

Movies and TV shows like The Godfather, The Sopranos, Raging Bull and The Untouchables are just a few examples that use fragments from these operas to heighten the drama. One of the most heart-wrenching on-screen deaths was that of Malone in The Untouchables, to the sound of the famous aria “Vesti La Giubba” from Pagliacci. This unmistakably dramatic singing is placed in an ironic counterpoint with violence and tragedy.

In The Godfather III, Anthony, one of the young members of the infamous Corleone family, becomes an opera singer and makes his debut in a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana in Sicily, which the whole family attend to support him. The same opera is "quoted" as part of the soundtrack to Raging Bull and The Sopranos.

Another fun fact: Pagliacci was the first-ever opera to be recorded in its entirety.

Dutch National Opera

Book your opera seats online

Tickets to the double-bill Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana are available on the Dutch National Opera website. Book your opera tickets in advance before all the prime seats are taken!