About 700 persons from socially underprivileged families and from residential institutions situated in Chisinau and several districts of the country will be able to watch the opera “The Clowns” at the National Opera House free of charge, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a news conference on November 15, National Opera House director general Valeria Sheican said the opera is presented within the social project “Opera and ballet – closer to you” that was launched two years ago. “It is play which we like very much. It has formed part of the Opera House’s repertoire for over 40 years. The opera was written by composer Rugiero Leoncavallo. It represents us as it features Moldova’s greatest tenor Mihail Muntean, helped by the first conductor of the Opera House Andriy Yurkevych. We hope the play will delight those who will come to see it,” said Valeria Sheican. Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga said that the project aims to help the persons who are in a difficult situation and make their lives brighter. “We want to offer them the possibility of watching this wonderful opera. I hope it will make them more hopeful and optimistic,” said the minister. Valentina Buliga stressed that the about 700 invitees were selected by specialists of the social assistance divisions. Most of them are from the municipality of Chisinau. There are also beneficiaries from several districts whose authorities were able to provide transport for them. The performance will be presented on November 20, starting at 4pm. The opera “The Clowns” or “Pagliacci” was premiered at the Dal-Verne Theater in Milan on May 21, 1892. In Chisinau, the premiere took place at the Moldovan State Opera and Ballet Theater “A.S.Pushkin” on June 10, 1961. The current version was premiered at the National Opera House of Moldova on June 16, 1992.