Opera review: Pagliacci

WHOEVER dreamed up the idea of staging Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci in a tent in a Paisley sports field (officially named Paisley Opera House for the occasion), using local adults and children as well as the professional Scottish Opera cast, struck pure gold. This verismo lollipop – refreshed by Bill Bankes-Jones’ judiciously contemporised English translation and brilliantly vital walkabout production – was just the ticket for the fairground atmosphere created around it.