The Boston Lyric Opera’s immersive version of Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci transformed the utilitarian Steriti Memorial Ice Skating Rink into a circus wonderland. Sung in English and Italian, this production, which opened Friday and continues through October 6^th, intensifies the realism and immediacy of the familiar verismo two-acter.

While current European production trends lean toward minimalistic surrealism, forcing singers to over-act for the sake of story-telling, BLO’s show delivers a visceral, sensory experience that brought the action directly to the audience. This production balances a creative tight-rope between minimalism and decadence with grace, offering a substantial operatic extravaganza that inhabits both domains.