The original name is Cavalleria rusticana.
An opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni with a libretto (in Italian) by Guido Menasci and Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti, based on the play by Giovanni Verga, which, in turn, is a dramatization of his short story of the same name.
Characters:
SANTUZZA, young peasant woman (soprano)
TURIDDU, young soldier (tenor)
LUCIA, his mother (contralto)
ALFIO, village driver (baritone)
LOLA, his wife (mezzo-soprano)
Operating time: Easter holiday late XIX century.
Setting: a village in Sicily.
First performance: Rome, Teatro Costanzi, May 17, 1890.
The name "Cavalleria rusticana" is usually translated as "Rural Honor". This is the irony of fate, because there is no honor in the behavior of most of the characters in the opera. As for the novella by Giovanni Verga, it describes the behavior of the heroes even more barbaric than what we encounter in Mascagni’s opera.
Open, from enormous power expressed all-consuming passion - these are the qualities of the opera that immediately brought it incredible success. Of course, the literary merits of the libretto are also significant. Verga's novella was considered a small literary masterpiece. In addition, E. Duse, this brilliant actress, together with other actors, performed the dramatic version of this short story on stage with great success even before the opera was written. "Rural Honor" was the first and perhaps the most significant triumph in both literature and music of a movement called verismo, "a theory," to quote Webster, "which in art and literature placed the image at the forefront. everyday life, psychological experiences of the characters, attention to dark sides lives of the urban and rural poor."
This small work was the first of three that received a prize in a competition announced by the publisher E. Sonzoño, and it overnight glorified no one at that time. famous composer, who was only twenty-seven years old. Even in New York there was a struggle for the right to have the first production of the opera. Oscar Hammerstein a few years before he built his big Manhattan Opera theatre, paid $3,000 just to beat out his rival producer Aronson, who held a so-called "public rehearsal" of the piece on October 1, 1891. Hammerstein's performance took place that same evening. All this happened less than a year and a half after the Rome premiere. But by this time all of Italy had already heard it. In addition, it has already been shown in Stockholm, Madrid, Budapest, Hamburg, Prague, Buenos Aires, Moscow, Vienna, Bucharest, Philadelphia, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen and Chicago (in that chronological sequence, in which these cities are named).
For more than half a century, Mascagni lived off the fame and income from the productions of this little masterpiece. None of his other operas (and he wrote fourteen more) had a success that could even remotely compare with the success of Rustic Honour, but even so he died in 1945 in full glory and honor.
Prelude
This story takes place in a Sicilian village at the end of the 19th century on Easter Sunday, so the prelude begins with calm music, like a prayer. Soon it becomes more dramatic, and in the middle the voice of a tenor is heard singing behind the still lowered curtain. This is his love serenade "Siciliana". Tenor - recently returned to native village soldier. He serenades his lover, Lola.
The curtain rises and the viewer sees a square in one of the towns of Sicily. In the back to the right is the church. Lucia's house is visible to the left. Bright Easter Sunday. At first the stage is empty. It's dawning. Peasants, peasant women, and children pass through the stage. The doors of the church open and the crowd enters. The peasant girl Santuzza asks old Lucia about her son Turiddu - because the way he behaves Lately, she really doesn't like it. The conversation between the two women is interrupted by the arrival of Alfio, an energetic young carter who sings a cheerful song about his life, while striking his whip (“II cavallo scalpita” - “The horse rushes like a whirlwind”). Little does he know that Turiddu is spending time with his lovely wife Lola. His brief conversation with Lucia, in which he casually mentions that he saw her son not far from his, Alfio’s, house, instills even more suspicion in Santuzza.
The sounds of an organ can be heard from the church. The choir sings behind the stage. All the villagers kneel, and together with Santuzza, who sings a magnificent solo, they offer a prayer - Regina coeli (Latin - “Queen of Heaven”). A religious procession enters the church, followed by the villagers. Santuzza, however, detains Lucia to tell her about his sadness. In the aria “Voi lo sapete, mamma...” (“You yourself know, mother, that even before Turiddu became a soldier he wanted to call Lola his wife”) she talks about how Turiddu, before joining the army, promised to marry Lola, but when he returned, she was married to someone else, and then he confessed his love to Santuzza, but now he was again inflamed with passion for Lola. Lucia is very upset, she sympathizes with Santuzza, but cannot help her. Lucia enters the church. Now, when Turiddu himself appears, Santuzza addresses him directly. He makes unconvincing apologies and becomes especially irritated when they are interrupted by the woman they were fighting about. Lola, very nicely dressed, appears on the way to church; she hums a coquettishly graceful love song “Fior di giaggiolo” (“Flower, flower!”). When she leaves, the quarrel between Santuzza and Turiddu plays out again with even greater force. Finally, all this becomes unbearable for Turiddu. In a fit of irritation, he pushes Santuzza away and she falls to the ground. Turiddu rushes after Lola to the church. Santuzza shouts a curse after him: “A te la mala Pasqua, spergiuro!” (“You will perish today on this bright holiday!”)
Alfio is the last to go to the church. Santuzza also stops him and tells him about his wife's infidelity. Santuzza's sincerity leaves him in no doubt that she is telling the truth. Alfio’s anger is terrible: “Vendetta avro priache tramonti il di” (“I will take revenge today!”), the driver swears, leaving the young peasant woman. Santuzza, now full of remorse for what she has done, rushes after him.
The stage is empty. The orchestra performs a wonderful intermezzo: it conveys the tranquility of a picture of peaceful, gentle nature. This mood creates a sharp contrast to the rapid development of deadly passions.
The Easter service is over, and the peasants fill the street in front of Turiddu's house in a noisy crowd. He invites everyone to have a drink with him and sings a sharply rhythmic drinking song. Alfio enters. He is in a menacing mood. Turiddu fills a glass for him, he wants to clink glasses with it. Alfio refuses to drink with him. Turiddu breaks the glass. Some women, after consulting with each other, approach Lola and quietly persuade her to leave. Two men stand opposite each other. Following an ancient Sicilian custom, the dishonored husband and rival embrace, and Turiddu bites Alfio's right ear - a sign of a challenge to a duel. Turiddu says that he will wait for Alfio in the garden. Now it’s Turiddu’s turn to feel remorse. He calls his mother and makes her promise that he will take care of Santuzza. He is the culprit of all the misadventures and now vows to marry her if...
Full of gloomy forebodings, Turiddu retires to the outskirts, where Alfio is already waiting for him. Santuzza, overcome with horror, remains silent. Time drags on agonizingly. And here's a terrible one female voice breaks through the oppressive silence: “Hanno ammazzato compare Turiddu!” (“They stabbed Turidda to death now!”). Alfio won the duel... Santuzza and Lucia faint. Women support them. Everyone is deeply shocked.
Henry W. Simon (translated by A. Maikapara)
Characters:
HISTORY OF CREATION
The reason for composing the work was a competition of one-act operas announced by the Milanese publisher E. Sonzogno. To participate in it, he interrupted work on the opera “Ratcliffe” and turned to the plot of “Rural Honor,” which had long attracted his attention. The short story by the Italian writer Giovanni Verga (1840-1922) “Honor Rusticana,” published in 1889, gained fame thanks to the dramatization, which featured the brilliant performer of the title role, E. Duse. The play was distinguished by its maximum concentration of action and plot. Its events unfold within one morning, which, undoubtedly, was especially attractive to the composer.
The libretto, written by G. Tardgioni-Tozetti (1859-1934) with the participation of G. Menashi, was initially two-act, but, according to the terms of the competition, it was reduced to one act. The central place in the opera was occupied by the images of the main characters, outlined with spare, well-aimed strokes: the infinitely devoted, frantic in love Santuzza and the frivolous, flighty Lola; passionate, addicted Turiddu and mercilessly vengeful Alfio. Folk scenes are noticeably developed. The two acts of the drama are connected in the opera by a symphonic intermezzo, which subsequently gained wide popularity.
Out of 70 operas submitted to the competition, “Rural Honor” won first prize. On May 17, 1890, the premiere took place in Rome and was a triumphant success. Soon the opera was performed in many countries around the world, helping to spread the principles of verism.
PLOT
It's getting light. Peasants are walking through the village square to the church. Among them is Santuzza, hurrying to old Lucia, the mother of her groom. She is in despair - Turiddu is once again seized by passion for his former lover, the flirtatious Lola, who, during his brief military service became the wife of the rich Alfio. All of Lucia's attempts to calm Santuzza are in vain; she is tormented by the pangs of jealousy. Turiddu appears in the square. Santuzza turns to him with a plea not to leave her. But Turidda is not moved by her words. He roughly pushes the girl away and quickly leaves after Lola, who is heading to the church. Returns to the village from long trip unsuspecting Alfio. Santuzza, distraught with grief, tells him about his wife’s infidelity. Soon she begins to regret the words that came out in a fit of despair, but it’s too late. The offended Alfio decided to brutally punish the offender who had tarnished the honor of his family. After graduation church service villagers gather in the tavern. The joyful celebration is disrupted by the appearance of Alfio. He contemptuously pushes away the cup of wine offered to him by Turiddu. Now Turiddu has no doubt that Alfio knows about his secret relationship with Lola. A duel to the death with an opponent is inevitable. As a sign of challenge, Turiddu, according to the ancient custom, bites Alfio on the right ear during an embrace. The choice has been made, the enemies will meet outside the village. Turiddu says goodbye to his mother. He is overcome by belated repentance towards the faithful Santuzza. He asks his mother to take care of her. Filled with gloomy forebodings, Turiddu leaves. Frightened, Lucia and Santuzza fall to each other. The voices of peasant women carry the news of the death of Turiddu. Lucia and Santuzza fall unconscious into the women's arms.
MUSIC
The music of "Rural Honor" is full of flexible, passionate cantilena, close to folk songs. Its emotional contrasts enhance the poignancy of the plot: violent passions are replaced by a state of spiritual detachment, the dramatic clash of human characters is opposed by the calmness of spring nature.
In the orchestral introduction, serene pastoral images and contemplative moods are vividly highlighted by a lyrically excited melody. Behind the curtain sounds the Sicilian Turiddu “O Lola, creature of the sultry night” (middle section of the introduction); its slow melody, accompanied by guitar accompaniment, is full of sensual languor and bliss.
The choral introduction “Fruits are showing off on the trees lushly” conveys the upbeat atmosphere of the holiday. Alfio’s colorfully orchestrated song with the choir “Horses Are Flying Madly” is imbued with proud prowess. The chorus “Sing the Song of Triumph” with its enlightened, sublime moods sharply contrasts with the drama of the next scene. Santuzza’s elegiacally sad romance “Going into the Distance as a Soldier” has a touch of ballad storytelling. The duet between Santuzza and Turiddu juxtaposes intensely passionate and mournfully enlightened melodies. The duet is interrupted by Lola’s flirtatiously graceful song “Flower of Mirror Waters.” Throughout the duet, sweeping melodies sound with increasing excitement. The drama reaches its peak in the duet of Santuzza and Alfio. The symphonic intermezzo brings relaxation; its serene calm evokes pictures of peaceful, gentle nature. Turiddu’s sharply rhythmic drinking song “Hello, the gold of the glass” splashes with sparkling fun. It contrasts with Turiddu’s arioso “I repent of my guilt,” full of deep sorrow; a plastic vocal melody is accompanied by a melodious cantilena of strings. The last arioso of Turiddu “Mother Santa...” is permeated with a feeling of passionate entreaty, conveying the utmost tension of mental strength.
The premiere took place in Rome on May 17, 1890.
The plot is based on the novella of the same name by the Italian realist writer Giovanni Verga. The action takes place at the end of the 19th century in a Sicilian village. The gentle and calm foreplay becomes more and more dramatic. Viewers hear the voice of a soldier singing a serenade in honor of his beloved.
The curtain rises and the viewer sees central square. People go to church for a festive prayer service in honor of Easter. Young woman Santuzza asks the old woman Lucia O Turiddu, her son. The conversation is interrupted by an energetic cab driver Alfio who sings his song. He has no idea what Turiddu spending time with his lovely wife Lola. Alfio speaks Lucia that he saw her son not far from his house. Santuzza increasingly suspects something is wrong.
The religious procession begins. Peasants sing along with the church choir to the sound of the organ. Santuzza stops Lucia to tell her your fears. She's afraid for Turiddu. After all, even before the service he was in love with Lola and wanted to marry her. But when he returned, she found herself married to someone else. Then he suggested Santuzze to become his bride, but, as it seems to her, he was again inflamed with passion for Lole. Lucia very upset about my son. She sympathizes with the young girl, but is unable to help. He approaches the church himself Turiddu. He brings Santuzze their vague apologies for being late, but they quarrel again. Interferes in their conversation Lola: She sings a love song and looks very inspired. Turiddu unable to cope with his feelings, he rudely pushes away Santuzza and runs after Lola. Santuzza falls to the ground and sends curses after his offender. Last to enter the church Alfio. Santuzza angrily tells him about her suspicions. Alfio furious and going to take revenge. The girl understands that a tragedy could happen and, full of remorse, rushes for jealous husband Lola.
The procession had just ended. All the villagers rush to the house of the merry Turiddu to start the festivities. Appears Alfio. Turiddu offers him a glass, but he refuses. Then the young soldier breaks the cup into pieces. Women sense something is wrong, persuading Lola leave. Two men are about to duel. Turiddu tormented by conscience because Santuzzi. He makes his mother promise that she will take care of the girl. And if he returns alive, he will immediately marry her. Turiddu goes to Alfio. The silence is painful... A terrible woman’s scream breaks the silence: “They have stabbed Turidda to death!” Santuzza and Lucia fall unconscious. The opera ends with general silence.
History of creation.
The reason for writing the opera was a competition in 1888 from the Sonzoño publishing house. The works that took first, second and third places had to be staged at the expense of the organizer of the competition for young composers. As soon as Pietro Mascagni learned about the competition, he immediately put aside all his affairs and set to work on a new work, although at that moment he was working on an opera “ Ratcliffe" Plot "Rural honor" has long attracted the attention of the composer. Theater productions Based on the novella, they enjoyed great success at that time. The actions develop so quickly that the viewer's attention is simply riveted to what is happening on stage. The events of the play unfold literally in one morning, which undoubtedly attracted Pietro Mascagni even more. The libretto was written by the composer's friend, Giovanni Tardgioni-Tozetti, with the participation of Guido Menasci. Originally two acts, it was shortened to one act. Work on the opera took two months and was completed on time. As a result, among the seventy-three operas participating in the competition, it was "Rural Honor"
received first place and was recognized as the best creation of the composer. For more than 50 years, Mascagni lived on the income from productions of this elegant masterpiece. None of the subsequent operas had such success. The premiere of the opera was marked by stunning delight from the public. Opera "Rural Honor" is still very popular today.
Fun facts:
- Many theaters around the world play "Rural Honor" by Pietro Mascagni and Gioachino Rossini's Pagliacci on the same evening due to their incredible similarities.
- Italian title of the opera "Cavalleria rusticana" usually translated as "Country Honor". There is an incredible irony in this, because in fact, storyline There is not the slightest honor in the behavior of the main characters!
- The premiere of "Rural Honor" in "" took place on December 30, 1891. The work went through more than 650 performances!
- Big fan opera "Rural Honor" was Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
- In honor of main character Lola's opera was named after an asteroid discovered in 1900.
- IN famous movie « Godfather 3" Anthony Corleone sings the part in "Rural Honour".
- In 1982, Italian director Franco Zeffirelli made a film of the same name.
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