Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana
Zurich Opera

The Argentine tenor José Cura is the main protagonist of this feverish story of found passions, betrayals, loyalties and debts of honor that are paid with blood, created by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci from a story by Giovanni Verga. With music composed by Pietro Mascagni, Cavalleria rusticana is one of the classic operas of verismo, and also one of the most performed.

The composition of this melodrama was swift: the publisher Edoardo Sonzogno organized a competition for young Italian composers who had not yet premiered an opera. He was invited to present brief works in one act, to select three titles that would be represented in Rome. Mascagni heard about the contest just two months before the submission deadline. He presented his opera on the last day, and was one of those selected among the 73 that competed. Premiered in May 1890 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, it was the only one that went down to posterity.

The story, which takes place in 19th century Sicily, tells of the love affair of the young Turiddu, who returns from the army to find that his girlfriend, Lola, has married Alfio, the town's prosperous cart driver. Turiddu tries to forget his love by committing himself to the young Santuzza, but Lola incites him to start an adulterous relationship. Of course, Alfio will end up discovering the deception and will seek a blood revenge.

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