This Presentation provided by members of the Bellini Opera Theatre of Michigan

Dino Valle, Artistic Director,Giuliano Zuccato , Sculptor of the Bellini Statue

Kathy Valle, Technical Specialist

 

 Naples Library, Naples, FL

In cooperation withSouth West Florida Italian Opera

SocietyAnd Bellini Opera Theatre

 

 

PresentsC avalleria Rusticana

Pietro Mascagni (1863 -1945) was born in Italian seaport of Livorno), the son of a baker. His father

intended him to become a lawyer and bitterly opposed his musical studies

Mascagni  

Mascagni Leoncavallo 

 

 

PresentsC ast of Characters for Cavalleria

RusticanaSantuzza, a peasant girl SopranoLucia, mother of Turiddu ContraltoAlfio, a Village teamster BaritoneTuriddu, a soldier, son of Lucia TenorLola, wife of Alfio Mezzo-soprano

Villages and Peasants:Place: A Sicilian villageTime: Nineteenth Century

 

Mascagni Leoncavallo 

 

 C avalleria Rusticana

The Story The action takes place on Easter Day in a Sicilian Village. Turiddu is heard off stage singing a serenade to Lola, the pretty wife of the prosperous carter, Alfio. “ O Lola my beloved , fair as a flower, how I adore your smile, brighter than

sunlight. Lips that are scarlet red, glowing with passion, bring me the pleasure of heaven. If I could know my fate, O my beloved, know that my soul was doomed to suffer for ever; yet I would seek your love though it destroy me,

suffer the pain and sorrow if you were near me.

Mascagni- O LoLa Ch’ai Di Latti La Cammisa– Dino Valle

 

 

Mascagni-Voi Lo Sapete O’ Mamma-Cavalleria Rusticana— Ellie  

C avalleria RusticanaThe Story

Easter Sunday, the villagers, in holiday attire, singing the hymn of the spring proceed to the Church. After they leave Santuzza enters in great agitation and approaches the tavern of Mamma Lucia. She is looking for her lover, Turiddu, Lucia’s son. “don’t you remember, mamma, when Turiddu became a soldier. Turiddu loved only Lola and Lola thought they would soon be married and hoped to find great happiness forever. Now Turiddu has returned and finds Lola married to Alfio. In his distress, Turiddu turned to me and tried to forget his passion for Lola and loved me and I loved him. Lola envied me and the joy I found in Turiddu and became faithless to Alfio. Now I am alone abandoned and dishonered.

 

 

C avalleria RusticanaWhen Alfio comes to the square, he asked Santuzza ,”are we still on time for Mass” and she answered, “no, it is too late, but thank God

you came because I want to talk to you. Lola is in Church with Turiddu, she is cheating on you” Alfio said, “ thank you for letting

me know, I will avenge my name.”

People are coming out of church. Turiddu invites everyone for a drink, including Alfio and Alfio said, “no thank you, your win e is poison to me”Turiddu answered, “ now what”. In Sicilian style, Turiddo embraces Alfio and bites his left ear, which is an invitation to a duel. The opera closes with a woman screaming that Turiddu is dead. Mascagni—Ah, il signore vi Manda-Cavalleria Rusticana Ellie and Dino 

 

 

PagliacciRuggiero Leoncavalo (1858-1919) born in Naples, the son of a magistrate- He received his training at the conservatory of his

native city . The struggling young composer gave piano and voice lessons to keep from starving.

 

 

 

Cast of Characters for PagliacciCanio, a head of a troupe of strolling players (Pagliaccio in the play) TenorNedda, his wife (Columbine in the play) SopranoTonio, a member of the troupe (Taddeo in the play)BaritonePeppe, a member of the troupe (Harlequin in the play) TenorSilvio, a villager BaritonePeasants and Villagers:

Place: A village in Calabria, ItalyTime: In the 1860’s

 

 

 

PagliacciThe Story

The action takes place in a village in Calabria during the Feast of the Assumption. In the prologue, Tonio appears before the curtain to explain to the audience that the play they are about to see is no fantasy but is, as he says, “a picture of life,” presenting the emotions and passions of real men and women.My friends, allow me to speak the Prologo, the authorHas tried to follow the ancient poets by recreating theClassic drama. The tears that they shed are not real, they Are acting. The suffering need not move our hearts,As they are make believe. He is trying to paint a pictureOf life by creating a nest of memory.

Leoncavallo– Prologo– Pagliacci Dino, as Tonio

 

 

 

PagliacciThe story

Nedda, wife of Canio is having an affair with Silvio. Silvio implores her to run away him by saying, “why did you charm me with your beauty only to leave me weeping so soon, why did you grant me moments of rapture, love, and supreme delight? Can you forget those hours together and all the joys we shared”. She answers, “can I forget, oh no, my beloved. When I remember my heart is enchanted.

Leoncavallo—E’Allor Perche—Pagliacci Ellie and Dino

 

 

PagliacciCanio catches Nedda and Silvio together and it is time now o perform and he must go on. He says, “to perform when my head is whirling with anguish, not knowing what I am saying or what I am doing. Yet, I must force myself to play the clown. Are you a man or a clown. Put on your coat and powder on your face, you must amuse your public, though Columbine and Harlequin betray you. Laugh now, clown laugh.

Leoncavallo—Vesti la Giubba– Pagliacci Dino  

 

 

This Presentation provided by members of the Bellini Opera Theatre of Michigan

Dino Valle, Artistic Director,Giuliano Zuccato , Sculptor of the Bellini Statue

Kathy Valle, Technical Assistance