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PH_Cavalleria_Umschlag:ph05_umschlag_mit_7mm 21.2.2011 9:04 Uhr Seite 1

Cavalleria rusticana

Before Turiddu was called tomilitary service, he got engaged to Lola. When he returned home

from the army, he was disappointed to find that while he was gone Lola had married the wealthy

Alfio. Turiddu tries to forget his sorrows with Santuzza.

Easter morning in a village in Sicily. Turiddu serenades Lola, with whomhe has re-established

contact. The village-inhabitants are happy because it is spring. Driven by a feeling of anxiety,

Santuzza looks for Turiddu at his mother Lucia’s tavern on the village square.

Alfio, who was away on business, returns and sings about his wife’s fidelity. Santuzza remains

outside the church. She suspects that Turiddu is unfaithful and confides her sorrows to his mot-

her. He is taken to task, but he resorts to excuses. However, as Lola passes by, he forgets San-

tuzza and her accusations and pushes her away. Santuzza curses him. Deeply wounded and

with hurt pride, she reveals to Alfio the adulterous relationship his wife has with Turiddu. In a

rage, Alfio swears to seek revenge.

When the church service is over, Turiddu invites everyone to join him in a traditional drink. He

also offers Alfio a glass. Alfio refuses rudely. Turiddu realizes that Alfio knows about the adultry.

They challenge each other according to a sicilian ritual (a bite in the ear). Fear of death rises in

Turiddu and he begs his mother for her blessing. He asks her to protect Santuzza. Then he goes

to the agreed meeting place for the duel. The cry «Turiddu has been murdered» ends the tra-

gedy.

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Pagliacci

Prologue

Tonio outlines the play in the prologue: for once, the author would like to be a painter whose

subject is real life.

Act I

Canio’s troupe of actors enters, warmly welcomed by the villagers. Canio announces a perfor-

mance for tonight. When Tonio tries to help Nedda out of the wagon, Canio pushes him away

jealously. The actors are invited to have a drink.

Nedda stays behind. She is upset by Canio’s jealousy. She would like to escape her invisible

cage so that she could be as free as a bird. Tonio eavesdropped on her. He wants to force his

love on Nedda; he is, however, scornfully rejected.

Silvio, a young farmer, appears. Nedda has fallen in love with him. He entreats her to leave Canio

and to run away with him tonight. Tonio has watched the two of them and hastily summoned

Canio. Just as Nedda is saying goodbye to her lover, Canio bursts on the scene raging mad with

jealousy. Silvio manages to get away without being recognized. Canio threatens Nedda and de-

mands that she reveals her lover’s name. Peppe and Tonio can hardly avoid a murder. With diffi-

culty Canio calms himself and gets ready for the play.

Act II

The audience, including Silvio, is waiting with anticipation.

The play about Colombina, Arlecchino, Taddeo and Pagliaccio begins. When Nedda in her role

as Colombina uses the same words to say goodbye to the serenading Arlecchino as she spoke

to Silvio, Canio gets the play and the real life all mixed up. Beside himself with jealousy, he de-

mands on the public stage to know the name of Nedda’s lover. Colombina/Nedda tries to re-

sume the play, but Canio threatens all the more. When Nedda remains stubbornly silent, Pagliac-

cio/Canio stabs and kills her. Her cries for help, directed at Silvio, result in Canio turning to the

youth who is hurrying to her side and he kills him as well. «La commedia è finita» – «The play is

over».

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