Turiddu sings of his rekindled love for Lola, with whom he is having an affair. Villagers prepare to celebrate Easter Sunday. Turiddu’s girlfriend Santuzza arrives to see him, but Turiddu’s mother, Lucia, tells her he is away in another town. Their conversation is interrupted by Alfio, Lola’s husband, returning home. He enthuses about his enjoyable job and lovely wife (Il cavallo scalpita), mentioning that he saw Turiddu near his house that morning.

The village gathers for the morning service, and Santuzza joins in with their Easter Hymn (Inneggiamo, Il Signor non è morto). When everyone goes on to church, Santuzza and Lucia stay behind. Santuzza tells Lucia how Turiddu seduced her, then abandoned her for Lola (Voi lo sapete, o mamma). Because she has slept with a man outside of marriage, Santuzza considers herself excommunicated and unable to enter the church. She asks Lucia to pray for her.

Turiddu arrives. Santuzza reproaches him for his behaviour with Lola, while he accuses her of irrational jealousy (Tu qui, Santuzza?). Lola arrives, flirts with Turiddu, mocks Santuzza and goes on to church. Santuzza begs Turiddu to stay, but he rejects her violently. Santuzza curses him. Alfio comes looking for Lola, and Santuzza impulsively tells him about the affair. Alfio swears revenge (Ad essi non perdono).

INTERMEZZO

Turiddu invites his friends to drink with him (Viva il vino spumeggiante). Alfio refuses. The women, with Lola, leave. Alfio challenges Turiddu to a duel. Turiddu accepts and Alfio heads to the orchard to wait for him. Turiddu tells his mother he has to go (Mamma, quel vino è generoso!), and that if he does not return, she must be a mother to Santuzza. As Lucia waits anxiously, Santuzza joins her. More villagers gather. Suddenly, a woman cries out that Turiddu has been killed.

PROLOGUE

Tonio, an actor in a travelling troupe, introduces the opera, telling the audience they will see a drama about real people.

ACT I

Villagers are excited by the arrival of travelling actors. Canio, the leader of the troupe, announces that their play will be about the misadventures and eventual triumph of the cuckolded husband Pagliaccio. The villagers invite Canio and actors Beppe and Tonio to have a drink. Tonio says he will join them shortly. The villagers joke that Tonio wants to stay and flirt with Canio’s wife Nedda. Canio responds that while he’s happy to play a cuckolded husband on stage, he will not countenance infidelity in real life.

Left alone, Nedda broods on her husband’s jealousy and envies the freedom of the birds (Stridono lassù). Tonio has been secretly listening, and now emerges to plead with her: he knows he is unattractive, but he loves her. Nedda mocks him, and when he tries to kiss her, strikes him. Tonio leaves, now provoked to revenge.

Silvio, one of the villagers, comes looking for Nedda: he is her secret lover. The troupe is departing the next day, and he urges her to run away with him. She is reluctant, but agrees to come that night. The couple do not realize that the vengeful Tonio has fetched Canio, in time for him to hear the lovers planning their escape. Silvio escapes before Canio discovers his identity. Tonio laughs at having got his own back on Nedda.

Canio threatens Nedda to make her reveal her lover, but she refuses. Beppe interrupts: the audience are arriving for the show. As Canio dresses, he laments a life in which he must play the clown while his heart is breaking (Vesti la giubba).

INTERMEZZO

ACT II

Tonio orders the audience to their seats while Nedda collects the ticket money. Silvio comes to remind her of their rendezvous, and she warns him to keep out of sight of Canio.

The play’s story mirrors the troupe’s real-life situation. Arlecchino (Beppe) serenades Colombina (Nedda), whose husband Pagliaccio (Canio) is away from home. Her servant Taddeo (Tonio) attempts to flirt with her, but she scornfully sends him away so that she can enjoy a supper with Arlecchino. Taddeo interrupts with the news that Pagliaccio is returning home early. Arlecchino escapes as Pagliaccio enters.

As scripted, Pagliaccio accuses Colombina of infidelity and demands her lover’s name. But Nedda realises Canio is not acting. She attempts to go on, but Canio refuses (No! Pagliaccio non son!). The audience applauds his acting, but Silvio grows nervous. Canio denounces Nedda. Enraged that she still refuses to reveal her lover’s name, he kills her. Silvio runs onto the stage. Canio kills him too. Tonio announces ‘the play is over’.