Overview | Cast & Creative | Synopsis | Music | Podcast | Video | House Programme
Overview | Cast & Creative | Synopsis | Music | Podcast | Video | House Programme
Overview
This beloved masterpiece, Cavalleria Rusticana in Concert delivers intense passion, memorable music and incredible arias. This one-act opera, performed live and in concert, welcomes back Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington to conduct the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Sung in Italian with English Surtitles.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to return to Vancouver Opera and make music again. Thank you to all of our supporters for keeping Vancouver Opera's heart alive and beating. I can't wait to share our concert performance of the well-loved Cavalleria rusticana and show just how hard that heart beats and how much we've missed performing for you."
-Johnathan Darlington, Vancouver Opera Music Director Emeritus
Overview
This beloved masterpiece, Cavalleria Rusticana in Concert delivers intense passion, memorable music and incredible arias. This one-act opera, performed live and in concert, welcomes back Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington to conduct the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Sung in Italian with English Surtitles.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to return to Vancouver Opera and make music again. Thank you to all of our supporters for keeping Vancouver Opera's heart alive and beating. I can't wait to share our concert performance of the well-loved Cavalleria Rusticana and show just how hard that heart beats and how much we've missed performing for you."
-Johnathan Darlington, Vancouver Opera Music Director Emeritus
Performances:
Sat Feb 12 | 7:30PM *tickets are limited
Sun Feb 13 | 2:00PM
Click to view available seats
Runtime:
75 minutes no intermission
Performances:
Sat Feb 12 | 7:30PM *tickets are limited
Sun Feb 13 | 2:00PM
Click to view available seats
Runtime:
75 minutes no intermission
Synopsis
Synopsis
A village in Sicily, circa 1900. On Easter Sunday, Turiddu can be heard serenading his mistress, Lola. She and Turiddu were together before he joined the army. When he returned and found her married to Alfio, a wealthy wagon owner, he seduced Santuzza to make Lola jealous. As a result, Turiddu and Lola rekindled their love in an adulterous affair, leaving Santuzza heartbroken.
A distraught Santuzza approaches the tavern of Mamma Lucia, Turiddu’s mother, who tells her that her son is away buying wine. But Santuzza knows that he was busy elsewhere. Alfio arrives, boasting of his wealth and of Lola. He asks Mamma Lucia for some of her good wine. When she says that Turiddu has gone to get more, Alfio replies that he saw him near his house earlier. Mamma Lucia is surprised, but Santuzza quiets her.
As the villagers leave for church, Santuzza stays behind and grieves. Turiddu arrives in the piazza where Santuzza confronts him about his affair, which he denies. Just then Lola passes by mocking Santuzza, and Turiddu turns to follow her. Santuzza begs him not to leave, but he abandons her. Alfio appears and Santuzza tells him that Lola has been cheating on him with Turiddu. In a rage, Alfio swears to get even and rushes off.
Following church, the villagers gather at the tavern where Alfio confronts Turridu and challenges him to a knife fight. Turiddu admits his guilt but still proceeds to fight for Santuzza’s sake, as well as for his honor. Alone with his mother, Turiddu begs her to take care of Santuzza if he doesn’t come back, then runs off to the fight. As Mamma Lucia waits anxiously, a woman runs in screaming that Turiddu has been killed.
A village in Sicily, circa 1900. On Easter Sunday, Turiddu can be heard serenading his mistress, Lola. She and Turiddu were together before he joined the army. When he returned and found her married to Alfio, a wealthy wagon owner, he seduced Santuzza to make Lola jealous. As a result, Turiddu and Lola rekindled their love in an adulterous affair, leaving Santuzza heartbroken.
A distraught Santuzza approaches the tavern of Mamma Lucia, Turiddu’s mother, who tells her that her son is away buying wine. But Santuzza knows that he was busy elsewhere. Alfio arrives, boasting of his wealth and of Lola. He asks Mamma Lucia for some of her good wine. When she says that Turiddu has gone to get more, Alfio replies that he saw him near his house earlier. Mamma Lucia is surprised, but Santuzza quiets her.
As the villagers leave for church, Santuzza stays behind and grieves. Turiddu arrives in the piazza where Santuzza confronts him about his affair, which he denies. Just then Lola passes by mocking Santuzza, and Turiddu turns to follow her. Santuzza begs him not to leave, but he abandons her. Alfio appears and Santuzza tells him that Lola has been cheating on him with Turiddu. In a rage, Alfio swears to get even and rushes off.
Following church, the villagers gather at the tavern where Alfio confronts Turridu and challenges him to a knife fight. Turiddu admits his guilt but still proceeds to fight for Santuzza’s sake, as well as for his honor. Alone with his mother, Turiddu begs her to take care of Santuzza if he doesn’t come back, then runs off to the fight. As Mamma Lucia waits anxiously, a woman runs in screaming that Turiddu has been killed.
Cast
Cast
Othalie Graham
Santuzza
Othalie Graham
Santuzza
Gregory Dahl
Alfio
Gregory Dahl
Alfio
Leah Giselle Field
Mama Lucia
Leah Giselle Field
Mama Lucia
Hillary Tufford
Lola
Hillary Tufford
Lola
David Pomeroy
Turridu
David Pomeroy
Turridu
Creative Team
Creative Team
Jonathan Darlington
Conductor
Jonathan Darlington
Conductor
Amanda Testini
Stage Director
Amanda Testini
Stage Director
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Leslie Dala
Associate Conductor & Chorus Director
Leslie Dala
Associate Conductor & Chorus Director
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Jennifer Tung
Women in Musical Leadership Conductor
Jennifer Tung
Women in Musical Leadership Conductor
Composer
Pietro Mascagni (December 7, 1863 – August 2, 1945)
Italian operatic composer, one of the principal exponents of verismo, a style of opera writing marked by melodramatic, often violent plots with characters drawn from everyday life. Mascagni studied at the conservatory at Milan, but, unable to submit to the discipline of his master, Amilcare Ponchielli, he left to join a traveling opera company. In 1889 he won the first prize in a competition with his one-act opera Cavalleria rusticana, based on a Sicilian melodrama by Giovanni Verga. It was produced at the Teatro Costanzi, Rome, on May 17, 1890, and was an instant success; it subsequently maintained its popularity, usually being given with Ruggero Leoncavallo’s one-act Pagliacci. Le maschere (1901), reviving the commedia dell’arte, is musically superior, though it had little success. Mascagni succeeded Arturo Toscanini as musical director of La Scala, Milan, in 1929. Among Mascagni’s other operas are L’amico Fritz (1891), Iris (1898), and Nerone (1935), the last glorifying Benito Mussolini.
Pietro Mascagni (December 7, 1863 – August 2, 1945)
Italian operatic composer, one of the principal exponents of verismo, a style of opera writing marked by melodramatic, often violent plots with characters drawn from everyday life. Mascagni studied at the conservatory at Milan, but, unable to submit to the discipline of his master, Amilcare Ponchielli, he left to join a traveling opera company. In 1889 he won the first prize in a competition with his one-act opera Cavalleria Rusticana, based on a Sicilian melodrama by Giovanni Verga. It was produced at the Teatro Costanzi, Rome, on May 17, 1890, and was an instant success; it subsequently maintained its popularity, usually being given with Ruggero Leoncavallo’s one-act Pagliacci. Le maschere (1901), reviving the commedia dell’arte, is musically superior, though it had little success. Mascagni succeeded Arturo Toscanini as musical director of La Scala, Milan, in 1929. Among Mascagni’s other operas are L’amico Fritz (1891), Iris (1898), and Nerone (1935), the last glorifying Benito Mussolini.
Music
Podcast: Inside Cavalleria Rusticana in Concert
Video: The Story Behind Cavalleria rusticana
Get to know the passionate and tragic tale behind Cavalleria rusticana. This beautiful handmade video, presented by Vancouver Opera teaching artist, Eve Daniell, and illustrated by Toronto artist, Sae Kimura, explains the characters and their relationships in this story of love and jealousy.
Video: Interview with Cavalleria rusticana Conductor, Jonathan Darlington
Vancouver Opera's Music Director Emeritus, Jonathan Darlington talks about Cavalleria rusticana, what makes it so special, what the audience can expect from the show, what his vision is for conducting Cavalleria rusticana and more... This one-act opera, will be performed live and in concert on Feb 12 and Feb 13.
House Programme
Read more about the performance and the creative team behind this concert.
CASTING AND PERFORMANCES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE