06/04/2026
Picture it: the sun is going down over Wilmington. You’ve got a lawn chair, a cold canned cocktail in your hand, a burger and a hotdog fresh off the grill, and you’re surrounded by friends. Then the music starts, and everything changes.
JULY 16 | OperaDelaware Studios Parking Lot
Happy hour/Tailgating begins at 7PM
Performance begins at 8PM
Pagliacci is one of the most mesmerizing pieces of music ever written. It is the opera that gave the world “Vesti la giubba,” the iconic aria of the crying clown that has brought audiences to tears for over a hundred years. It is the story of Canio, a clown who performs for crowds every night while his private world collapses around him. It is about a love that curdles into poisoned obsession and the masks we wear to conceal our pain. It is about the terrifying moment when the mask falls away.
In advance of our performances at Dogfish Head and Delaware Botanical Gardens later this summer, we are offering this special one hour adaptation to our patrons here in the OD parking lot! Pagliacci stars Company Artists , , and .moon.baritone perform alongside guest artists and .malc_. These are world-class singers performing one of the most emotionally demanding works in the operatic repertoire, close enough for you to feel the drama and their voices reverberating through your body, all under the gorgeous open sky.
GENERAL ADMISSION $35 - BYO lawn chair!
PRIORITY SEATING $50 - Provided chair + 2 concession tickets for drinks or food!
Bring the family. Bring the neighbors. Bring the good folding chairs and the people you want to share something really special with.
Opera has never been this close.
