Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

88. CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
Tragic Opera in One Act By Pietro Mascagni
Libretto By G. Targioni-Tozzetti and G. Manasci, Adapted from Verga 's Drama
First Produced Rome, May, 1890
Chief Characters Santuzza, Lola, Lucia, Turiddu, Alfio
THE scene is laid in Sicily on Easter morning. A young peasant, Turiddu, before going on military
service, has been the sweetheart of the rustic belle, Lola; but on his return he finds the fickle
maiden already married to Aiflo, the carrier. In pique he makes love to another maiden, Santuzza,
who returns his attentions with a deep and abiding passion. Turiddu, however, has no real
affection for the devoted Santuzza, whose honour he has betrayed; and on receiving
encouragement from the flighty Lola to renew his attentions to her, he deserts his new sweetheart
with-out compunction and gladly returns to his first love, Lola, who is ready enough for such a
flirtation, even though well-treated by her husband, who adores his pretty wife. The deserted
Santuzza complains of her ill-treatment to Turiddu's mother, Lucia, the mistress of the inn, telling
the whole of the wretched story of her betrayal, and begging the dismayed mother to intercede for
her with her faithless son. At this moment, however, Turiddu himself appears; and as Lucia retires
within Santuzza approaches her truant lover, and implores him not to cast her aside. Turiddu,
however, is deaf to her reproaches and entreaties; and when she clings passionately to him, he
flings her angrily away from him, so that she falls to the ground, as he hurries away to keep an
appointment with the pretty Lola. When Santuzza recovers, she determines to be revenged by
informing Adfio of his wife's intrigue. This she does; and when the light-hearted, happy Alfio
hears of his beloved Lola's return to her old sweetheart he is filled with despair and deep jealousy.
Consequently, when Turiddu presently appears, in good spirits, after his happy interview with
Lola, and invites his friends to drink with him, Alfio sternly refuses to do so. Turiddu now sees
that Alfio is aware of the intrigue; and he resigns himself to the inevitable with a good grace. Alfio
gives the betrayer of his honour the challenge in true Sicilian fashion by embracing him and biting
his left ear; and then the pair retire to the fields to fight, whilst the terrified Lola is led away by her
friends. Almost immediately some of the rustics rush back with the dread news " Turiddu is slain!"
And as the announcement is made the unhappy Santuzza falls to the ground in a dead swoon. Thus
the "Village Honour" is appeased.
89. IRIS
Japanese Opera in Three Acts By Pietro Mascagni
Libretto By Luigi Illica
First Produced Rome, November, 1898
Chief Characters Iris, Osaka, Kyoto, Cieco
THE scene is laid in Japan, where Iris, the lovely daughter of a blind man named Cieco, is playing
with her dolls in true Japanese fashion, and greeting the rising sun in simple terms of joyful
adoration. Though now grown to fair maidenhood, Iris is as simple and innocent of the world as a
little child; and she is kept away from society by her doting father. She is, however, seen by a bold