Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci

Synopsis

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

Turiddu was engaged to Lola before he was called up for military service. When he returns home, he is disappointed to discover that Lola has become the wife of the wealthy Alfio. Turiddu tries to console himself with Santuzza..

Easter morning in a Sicilian village.

Turiddu sings a serenade for Lola, with whom he has reconnected. Spring brings joy to the villagers. Santuzza, driven by inner turmoil, looks for Turiddu at his mother Lucia's, who runs a bar in the village square. Alfio, who has been away on business, returns and sings of his wife's fidelity. Easter bells call the villagers to the morning service.

Santuzza, who feels sinful because of her relationship with Turiddu and has therefore remained outside the church, suspects his infidelity and confides her worries to Turiddu's mother. He is confronted and resorts to excuses. But when Lola passes by, he forgets Santuzza and her accusations, pushes her away and runs after Lola. Santuzza curses him. Deeply offended and hurt in her honor, she tells Alfio about his wife's adulterous relationship with Turiddu. Alfio's anger leads to an oath of revenge. Only now does Santuzza realize in despair what a fatal development she has initiated.

-Intermezzo sinfonico-

After church, Turiddu invites everyone to a traditional drink. He also offers Alfio a cup. He refuses curtly. Turiddu realizes that Alfio knows about the adultery. A duel is demanded according to Sicilian ritual. In his burgeoning fear of death, Turiddu asks for his mother's blessing and asks her to protect Santuzza. He then faces the duel at the agreed location. The cry "Turiddu has been murdered!" ends the tragedy.

PAGLIACCI

Tonio, a comedian who plays Taddeo in the Commedia, takes the place of the poet as prologue and explains the play to the audience in programmatic outline: the author, even though he uses masks, wants to be nothing other than a painter this time, whose subject is real life. However, one should not linger over the dance of masks, but immerse oneself in the souls of people.

The action takes place on the day of the Assumption (August 15). Canio's troupe of comedians arrives, warmly welcomed by the townspeople. In addition to Nedda, the principal's wife (in the Commedia Colombina), Beppe (in the Commedia Arlecchino) and Tonio are also part of the troupe. Canio (in the Commedia Pagliaccio) announces his performance for tonight. When Tonio tries to help Nedda off the wagon, Canio jealously pushes him away. The comedians are invited to a drink. Someone jokes that Tonio is only staying behind to have a rendezvous with Nedda. Canio reacts violently: he may play the cuckolded husband in the comedies, but in real life he would not tolerate infidelity.

Bells call for the evening church service. Nedda is disturbed by Canio's barely veiled threat. She feels constricted by his jealousy, wants to escape her invisible cage and be as free as a bird... Tonio has overheard them. He wants to force his love on Nedda, but is scornfully rejected. Full of rage and threatening revenge, he makes his escape. Silvio, a young farmer with whom Nedda has fallen in love, appears. He implores her to leave Canio and flee with him tonight. After some initial hesitation, she agrees, unaware that Tonio has overheard them both and hastens to summon Canio from the nearby osteria.

Just as Nedda is saying goodbye to her lover, Canio rushes out, furious with jealousy. Silvio manages to escape unrecognized. Canio's rage now turns against Nedda. He threatens her with his knife and demands that Nedda reveal the name of her boyfriend. But she remains silent. Beppe is able to snatch the knife from Canio and prevent the worst from happening. The audience is about to appear to watch the performance. Canio struggles to calm down and gets ready for the performance.

Shortly before the Commedia begins: Tonio beats the big drum and the spectators, including Silvio, arrive expectantly. Nedda, who collects the money, warns her lover of Canio's jealousy. The game between Colombina, Arlecchino, Taddeo and Pagliaccio begins. When Nedda, in her role as Colombina, shouts the same words she shouted at Silvio to the serenade singer Arlecchino as they say goodbye, Canio sees the game and reality become blurred.

Outraged with jealousy, he demands to know the name of Nedda's lover on stage. Colombina/Nedda tries to resume the play, but Canio becomes increasingly threatening. The audience also begins to suspect that this is about more than just theater. When Nedda stubbornly remains silent, Pagliaccio/Canio stabs her and kills her. Her cry for help, addressed to Silvio, results in Canio turning to the man who has come running and fatally hitting him too. - La commedia è finita" - The play is over.

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA - 75 MIN

INTERMISSION - 25 MIN

PAGLIACCI - 75 MIN

Program and cast

Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci

Santuzza: Elīna Garanča

Turiddu: Jonathan Tetelman

Lucia: Elena Zaremba

Alfio: Adam Plachetka

Musical direction: Nicola Luisotti

Direction, stage and costumes: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle

Pagliacci

Canio (Pagliaccio): Jonas Kaufmann

Nedda (Colombina): Maria Agresta

Tonio (Taddeo): Adam Plachetka

Beppo (Arlecchino): Jörg Schneider

Silvio: Stefan Astakhov

Musical direction: Nicola Luisotti

Direction, stage and costumes: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle