OperaKino 26/27 - CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA/PAGLIACCI

TWO OPERAS ABOUT mistrust, spurned love, infidelity, jealousy, revenge, murder, and the clown who has to laugh even though his heart is crying, these are the ingredients of these two so-called “one-act” operas.

Cavallaria Rusticana takes place in a Sicilian village on Easter Day.
Turiddu has previously loved Lola, but she is now married to Alfio. Turiddu has instead seduced Santuzza, but he has resumed the relationship with Lola. Santuzza is desperate and reveals Turiddu's infidelity to Alfio. Alfio becomes enraged and challenges Turiddu to duel.
Pietro Mascagni is one of the most important Italian opera composers of the early 20th century. Mascagni's masterpiece Cavalleria Rusticana (1890) became one of the greatest sensations in opera history. The opera won the music publisher Sonzogno's competition for young opera composers, and this opera initiated verism.

Bajadser/Pagliacci is set in an itinerant acting troupe in Calabria. The squad's leader Canio is married to Nedda. Nedda loves the young man Silvio and plans to escape with him. Tonio reveals the affair to Canio. Canio discovers he has been betrayed and loses control.

Ruggiero Leoncavallo was an Italian opera composer and librettist. Although he produced numerous operas and other songs throughout his career, it is his two-act opera Pagliacci (Bajadser,1892) that remained his lasting contribution, despite attempts to escape the shadow of his greatest success. He won world fame with his opera Pagliacci (Bajadser).
It stars world star Roberto Alagna in the roles of both Turiddu (Cavalleria Rusticana) and Canio (Pagliacci). Conductor: Daniele Rustioni, Direction: Grischa Asagaroff.

Running time: 152 min.