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Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro
Mascagni, after the story by Giovanni Verga, with libretto by
Targioni-Tozzetti, premiered in Rome at the Teatro Costanzi on May 17,
1890.
Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini. First performed on 14 December 1918 at the Metropolitan Opera, New York.
Notes
Composers
Production
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Cavalleria Rusticana
Setting - A village in Sicily, on Easter Sunday 1880
The events take place on Easter morning. As the villagers pass through the square, Santuzza approaches Mamma Lucia's wine shop and asks her if she has seen her son, Turiddu. Lucia replies that her son is away buying wine, but Santuzza tells her that he was seen in the village the previous evening. Alfio, the carter, arrives and asks Lucia for wine. She responds that Turiddu is away buying it, but Alfio knows that Turiddu has not left the village as he saw Turiddu near his house. Lucia wants to question him further, but Santuzza stops her. Alfio leaves as the villagers arrive for Mass and sing the Easter hymn before entering the church.
Santuzza remains with Lucia who asks her why Santuzza prevented her from speaking. Santuzza reveals that she has been seduced by Turiddu, but that he has now turned his attentions to his former love Lola. Lola is now married to Alfio and Santuzza feels rejected. She asks Mamma Lucia to pray for her. Lucia goes into the church while Santuzza waits for Turiddu. When he appears she tells him that she knows about his relationship with Lola, but that she still loves him and is prepared to forgive him. Turiddu, predictably, denies the whole affair, and an argument ensues. Lola appears and deliberately taunts Santuzza while flirting with Turiddu. Lola leaves and Santuzza cajoles, then chastises Turiddu. She finally curses him after he flings her to the ground and goes after Lola.
Alfio passes by on his way to church, and Santuzza in her anger tells Alfio of his wife's infidelity. She regrets it instantly, but Alfio swears revenge.
The Intermezzo depicts the exultation of Easter. The congregation pour out of the church. Turiddu is with Lola, and stops with his friends at the wine shop. Alfio approaches in the midst of the revelry, and refuses Turiddu's offer of a drink. The women are alarmed and leave, taking Lola with them. In Sicilian fashion, Alfio and Turiddu embrace, Turiddu biting off Alfio's ear, thus accepting the challenge to a duel. Turiddu admits that he is in the wrong, but for the sake of Santuzza is determined to fight for his life. Alfio and the men leave to await Turiddu behind the orchard.
Turridu asks his mother to embrace him, and to look after Santuzza, then rushes off to the fight without giving Lucia any explanation. Santuzza comes to comfort Lucia. There is a scream, and the villagers run into the square with the news that Turiddu has been killed.
I Pagliacci [The Strolling Players}
The famous "Prologue" tells us that life in the theatre represents reality but is not real.
Set in a tiny Calabrian village, Pagliacci is about a very small, rather tatty touring band of actors.
The villagers rush on in great excitement because "The Pagliaccos" are on their way. The actors parade before the people in the hope of attracting them to that night's performance.
Canio, the head of the troupe, is asked what he would do if Nedda behaved like she does in the
play. His reply is rather frightening. "Such a game", he says. "would not be worth playing". Already there is a dark undercurrent beneath the frivolity.
Canio and Beppe leave for the local tavern., leaving Nedda to unpack.
The villagers leave to go to church promising to come back that night at eleven o'clock to see the play. Left alone, Nedda enjoys the songs of birds and the sunlight. Tonio the misshapen clown tries to press himself on Nedda. She repulses him, and Silvio a local land owner, arrives. Nedda and Silvio are involved in a clandestine affair. When he asks her to leave Canio and marry him she declines, because she will not give up her career.
Called by Tonio, Canio returns in time to see Silvio running away. He is furious at the thought of being cuckolded but has to face up to the fact that he is aging. His rage is suppressed in the great aria at the end of act one when he forces himself to get ready to perform.
After an intermezzo, we return to the makeshift theatre at night. The villagers are there in high anticipation of seeing a play. Whilst collecting money Nedda sees Silvio in the crowd.
The play begins - an old story of Harlequin and Colombine and the deception by them both of Puncinello. The story becomes too close to life. Cansio enters as Puncinello and demands to know the name of Nedda 's lover. The audience think that this is great acting. Too soon the truth becomes apparent. Nedda tries to get offstage but is forced back on by Beppe. She tries to play the comedy but Canio cannot control himself any more. He attacks her, then pulls a knife and stabs her. Silvio rushes from the crowd and meets the same fate. Casio faces his last audience, sobbing, "the comedy is ended".
- Blair Edgar |
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