Moray Coast U3A Music Appreciation Group

On Wednesday 11th September 2019 the Music Appreciation Group enjoyed a recording of ’s opera Cavelleria Rusticana complete with its famous and equally famous Easter Hymn. Some commented that the plot did not seem to be a reflection of real life but one, (male), member of the group commented that it was very true to life in that it was the women that got the men into trouble.

Cavelleria Rusticana - composition history

Cavalleria rusticana, (Italian: “Rustic Chivalry”) is an opera in one act by the Italian composer Pietro Mascagni. The Italian was by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci. It was premiered in Rome on the 17th May, 1890. It is a short and intense work that was originally submitted in a competition for one act operas. It sets to music the Italian writer Giovanni Verga’s short story (1880) and play (produced 1884) of the same name, which tells a story of love, betrayal, and revenge in Sicily. Mascagni’s opera was an instant success, and it started a trend in opera for the naturalistic, often violent “” style associated in literature with Verga and his contemporary Luigi Capuana.

In 1888 Mascagni heard of a competition for one-act operas. With four complete operas to his name, he was on the verge of submitting one act of his historical drama Guglielmo Ratcliff when he learned that his wife had already sent in without his knowledge. It won a top prize and went on to become an international success. The most famous excerpt is the lyrical intermezzo connecting the opera’s two scenes. A synopsis of Cavalleria rusticana

The set has an inn opposite the church and usually houses around a village square. It is Easter morning in a Sicilian village. Before the curtain rises, a voice is heard in the distance singing a Siciliana, a joyful song of love. Santuzza, a young woman of the parish, comes to see Mamma Lucia, proprietress of the inn that faces the church. Santuzza is looking for Mamma Lucia’s son, Turiddu, who had been courting her until recently. At some point before the action unfolds we learn that Santuzza has been “dishonoured” by Turiddu.

Alfio appears bragging about his life of travel and Lola, the pretty wife he is coming home to. Mamma Lucia asks Santuzza the reason for the secrecy about Turiddu’s whereabouts. Santuzza reminds her that Turiddu, who was in love with Lola before he joined the army, returned home and has resumed his affair with Lola, without the knowledge of her husband

Page 1 of 2 whose business often takes him out of town. Turiddu, on his way to church, is surprised to meet Santuzza. He tries to avoid a scene, but she is insistent: what was he doing near Lola’s house when he was supposed to be in Francofonte? The angry Turiddu rejects Santuzza’s increasingly hysterical pleas not to abandon her. At this moment, the appearance of Alfio seems providential to the distraught Santuzza, who tells him plainly that Lola has been unfaithful to him with Turiddu. Alfio swears revenge, and Santuzza immediately regrets having told him. She has only hastened the inevitability of losing Turiddu. The people enter church to the magnificent Easter Hymn. When the people come out of the church after the long mass Turiddu urges everyone to have wine and exchanges toasts with Lola. Alfio appears but when Turiddu offers him wine, the carter says it might be poisoned. Sensing trouble, the neighbours draw back as Turiddu and Alfio exchange the few words that constitute a challenge to a duel, and Turiddu gives Alfio the ritual bite on the ear. The contrite Turiddu now has a moment alone with his mother. He says that she must look after Santuzza if anything happens to him. Then he rushes away. The alarmed Mamma Lucia quickly realizes that something is wrong, but before she can follow Turiddu, neighbours rush in, crying that he has been killed. This is not the happiest of endings but Sicilians are renowned for their intense passions and there are plenty in this plot. Members of the music group were clearly moved by this short opera.

Many thanks to Brian Morrison for organising an informative and entertaining afternoon.

Santuzza pleads with Turiddu not to leave her. The entrance to the church is on the right and Mama Lucia’s Inn is off-stage on the left. The dress is period Sicilian.

Page 2 of 2