Opera Music: Cavalleria Rusticana

Cavalleria Rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci.

Introduction

Opera Music: Cavalleria Rusticana is an opera in one act by Italian composer Pietro Mascagni. The libretto was written by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guerino Menasci, based on a short story of the same name and novel Cavalleria rusticana by Giovanni Verga. The opera premiered on 17 May 1890 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome.

Set in a small village in Sicily, the opera tells the story of turridu, a soldier who has returned home from military service, and his love for Lola, the wife of his friend Alfio. The jealous Alfio finds out about the affair and challenges Turridu to a duel. In the ensuing fight, Turridu is killed and Alfio triumphs.

What is Opera Music?

Opera music is a form of classical music that originated in Italy in the late 16th century. It is usually sung in Italian or French, but can also be sung in other languages. Opera music is usually performed in an opera house by professional opera singers, with a full orchestra accompanying them.

The Three Types of Opera

Opera is a drama set to music. It is usually sung in a foreign language, with the dialogue either being recited or sung. The word “opera” comes from the Italian word for “work”. There are three main types of opera: grand opera, comic opera, and opera seria.

Grand Opera:
Grand opera is the most serious and dramatic type of opera. The stories are usually about historical events or legends, and often deal with themes of love, death, and betrayal. Pain and passion are conveyed through the music and singing, which is usually very emotional. Some of the most famous grand operas include Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” and “La traviata”, as well as Richard Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen”.

Comic Opera:
As the name suggests, comic opera is a lighter form of opera that usually features comedic elements. The stories are often light-hearted, and end happily. The music is often more light-hearted as well, and can sometimes include popular tunes of the day. Some of the most popular comic operas include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” and Giacomo Puccini’s “La Bohème”.

Opera seria:
Opera seria is a type of opera that was popular in the 18th century. It is characterized by its serious subject matter, as well as its use of da capo arias (arias in which the singer repeats the first section after singing the second). Opera seria was eventually replaced by grand opera in the 19th century.

What is an Opera Singer?

An opera singer is a classical singer who specializes in opera, a form of theatre in which music has a leading role and the parts are taken by singers. Opera singers typically have good vocal technique, sight-reading ability, acting skills, and stage presence.

Cavalleria Rusticana

Cavalleria rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play and short story written by Giovanni Verga.

The Plot of Cavalleria Rusticana

Cavalleria Rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci. Based on a short story of the same name by Giovanni Verga, it tells the story of a tragic love triangle set in a Sicilian village. The opera was first performed in Rome’s Teatro Costanzi on 17 May 1890.

The work is the first in the so-called verismo trilogy of operas by Mascagni, together with Pagliacci and Amica. It is one of the most frequently performed operas: Cavalleria Rusticana has been staged more than any other Verismo opera except for Pagliacci.

The Characters in Cavalleria Rusticana

The following is a list of the characters in Pietro Mascagni’s opera, Cavalleria Rusticana, along with a brief description of each.

Santuzza: Santuzza is a young peasant woman who is in love with Turiddu, but he has left her for Lola. She is desperate and jealous, and she tells Alfio about Turiddu’s affair in the hope that he will take revenge.

Turiddu: Turiddu is a young man who has been carrying on an affair with Lola, even though he is betrothed to Santuzza. He is carefree and irresponsible, and he does not seem to understand the pain that he has caused Santuzza.

Lola: Lola is the wife of Alfio, and she has been having an affair with Turiddu. She is also from Sicily, which makes her an outsider in the small town of Vizzini.

Alfio: Alfio is Lola’s husband, and he is also from Sicily. He works as a cart driver, and he is good friends with Turiddu. When Santuzza tells him about Turiddu’s affair with Lola, Alfio challenges Turiddu to a duel.

Nedda: Nedda is Silvio’s fiancée, and she does not want to marry him because she does not love him. She would much rather be with her true love, Tonio.

The Music of Cavalleria Rusticana

Cavalleria Rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play and short story written by Giovanni Verga. It premiered on 17 May 1890 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome.

Cavalleria rusticana is the first work in a triptych of Sicilian-themed works (Cavalleria rusticana, Pagliacci and L’amico Fritz being the others), although it was the only one that was truly completed and staged.

Conclusion

Cavalleria Rusticana is an intense and powerful opera. It tells a story of love, jealousy, and betrayal, set against the backdrop of a Sicilian village. The music is beautiful and haunting, and the characters are rich and fully-formed. If you’re a fan of operatic music, or if you’re simply looking for a moving and emotionally-charged story, Cavalleria Rusticana is definitely worth checking out.