MASCAGNI : CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

MASCAGNI'S RUSTIC CHIVALRY

Radio New Zealand Concert network 
Sunday 6th of March 2016 at 6.04 pm
Sunday 24th of May 2015 at 6.03  pm
Cav & Pag
Opera's most popular double-bill - a quiet Easter morning in Sicily that culminates in murder, and the tragic tale of Canio, who must play the clown while his heart is breaking, are portrayed with dramatic realism
2016
MASCAGNI: Cavalleria Rusticana, an opera in one act
Santuzza........................... Violeta Urmana
Turiddu............................. Yonghoon Lee
Mamma Lucia................... Jane Bunnell
Alfio................................. Ambrogio Maestri
Lola.................................. Ginger Costa-Jackson
Peasant woman................. Andrea Coleman
Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orch/Fabio Luisi
2015
MASCAGNI: Cavalleria Rusticana, an opera in one act
Santuzza........................... Eva-Maria Westbroek
Turiddu............................. Marcelo Álvarez
Lucia................................ Jane Bunnell
Alfio................................. George Gagnidze
Lola.................................. Ginger Costa-Jackson
Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orch/Fabio Luisi

INTRODUCTION
SYNOPSIS
PREVIEW
Italian Libretto
Who can name another opera of Mascagni, besides this one-act melodrama? I have a recording of L'Amico Fritz ("Friend Fritz"), with Luciano Pavarotti and Mirella Freni; the story is about a rich Jewish bachelor in Alsace; he has sworn he will never marry, but he falls in love with Suzel, the daughter of his steward; they sing the charming "cherry duet"; and it has a happy ending. Mascagni composed this comic lyrical opera straight after Cavalleria. It has always been very popular in Italy, but in Mussolini's time all the Jewishness had to be excised.

Cavalleria and Pagliacci are regularly presented as a "double bill" (not at twice the price, but two for the price of one), but there have been other combinations, such as Cavalleria and Suor Angelica (Puccini's Sister Angelica, from his tryptich, Il Trittico), hence "Caval" and "Angel"? As you know I certainly do cavil about the crazy "Cav and Pag". It's a wonder they don't say "Caval and Pagel" and really show their ignorance. Come on (stop me if you have heard me say this before): it's "Cav and Pal". Or start at the other end and call them "Rusty and Archy".