Cavalleria Rusticana - Easter Hymn (The Royal Opera)

Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci (The Players) are today Italian opera’s most famous double act, but they were written independently. Cavalleria rusticana came first, its hugely successful premiere in 1890 doubtless an influence on Leoncavallo. His Pagliacci in 1892 was another triumph. The two works, each undeniable masterpieces of the verismo tradition of realism, share dramatic concision, melodic richness and an obsession with violent jealousy.

Damiano Michieletto’s production was an Olivier-Award-winning hit when first presented in 2015. He sets both operas within the same village, allowing characters from one piece to reappear in the other and offering theatrical realism within visuals that are modern and yet timeless. The production was widely praised at its premiere, and summarized by the Financial Times as ‘a gripping evening all round’.

[RoyalBalletAndOpera]

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[julielockwood]

This was my Dad's favourite opera and his favourite song, wish he was still with me now! Listening 🎶 to this amazing performance brings back memories. Xx ❤❤❤

[johnhodgeman]

Just saw this tonight at the Royal Opera house. The finale performance. Breath taken away would be an understatement.

[isolda]

This is just BEAUTIFUL! I'm overwhelmed by God's inspiration to Mascagni!

[AI-hxfx]

I was NOT expecting the statue of the Mater Dolorosa to move (albeit that's what Santuzza's conscience leads her to imagine). That's more or less how that specific image of the Virgin Mary looks like for Easter in my country, and a wonderfully creative and accurate touch in this particular production. Quite terrifying to mentally perceive the often loving Mother of God angrily condemning one's soul like that!

[johnmarlin]

So beautiful. Brought me to tears. Thank you.

[giulianofago]

Una messa in scena degna dellla migliore opera italiana. Grande stile e grandi effetti - magnifico tutto ! Grazie !

[misssarahashplant]

That makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Beautiful!

[fredo]

Saw this production back in 2015, and am seeing it again in January. My favourite scene!

[HeatherJohnson]

Sends shivers down my spine. What an incredible voice!

[vimafeca]

Dois grandiosos espectáculos: Cavalleria Rusticana e Pagliacci. Duas das minhas óperas preferidas. Muito obrigado para quem os produzio.

[Jake-nkwg]

An excellent presentation; my college choir performed this and I was in the chorus!!  Soooo beautiful and thank you for sharing. :)

[MSMillerNYC]

There's an odd strain of commentary here that seems to think Mary's accusatory finger-pointing is meant to interpret the Virgin's actual response to Santuzza's prayer. It seems pretty clear it's a projection of Santuzza's tortured imagination––or perhaps even a projection of the village's scapegoating of her. It's a theatrical interpretation, not a theological one. The more subtle and remarkable bit of imagery is the "Panificio" sign above the bakery. The risen Christ seems to be symbolized literally as the bread of the people.

[aprile]

Yes our home was awakened with this hymnal every year thanks papa'

[intestinalworm]

Watched a production by Opera Australia in Melbourne in recent years - this scene most certainly gave me goosebumps (lapsed RC)!

[christawietholter]

Wunderschön!! Stimmgewaltig - und ein bezauberndes Bühnenbild! Danke!

[davidwilliams]

OMG, this just makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. What an epic performance

[starwars]

This opera is featured in The Godfather Part 3.

[TheGabboMusic]

Santuzza feels social guilt (stating to be "scomunicata", in this context meaning sinful and not yet forgiven, hence unable to receive the communion) for having fornicated outside of marriage with Turiddu, who seduced her. A shameful behaviour for XIX Century Sicily and a sin for the Church. The pangs of social guilt and jealousy, both solvable by marrying Turiddu, are so overwhelming that Santuzza tries across the whole opera to convince Turiddu to get back with her, even by telling Alfio of the affair between Turiddu and Lola to stop the affair. An inconsiderate action that degenerates into Turiddu answering to Alfio's honour duel by drawing blood, meaning duel to the death: Turiddu does not fear death, as stated in the very first aria, since if Alfio dies he will be able to marry Lola. The Virgin Mary pointing the finger is a representation of the fact that Santuzza feels overwhelmingly guilty, and yet is unable to "fix" her situation as prescribed by the folk laws. She is not being forgiven by her "religion", that in a small Sicilian village corresponds to folklore and traditions, more than faith and dogma. The public procession itself is a folkloristic act, not a matter of faith and belief.
People getting enraged about this ROH direction cannot discern the folklore, the religious organisation (the Catholic Church), and the personal faith and feelings of Santuzza. The finger pointing is so strong EXACTLY because the Regina Coeli prayer part of this choir scene asks the Virgin for forgiveness of all sins (necessary to obtain the everlasting life quoted in the full version of the prayer), but Santuzza feels it is refused to her. Either a symbol that the villagers talk and do not forgive her, unlike the Catholic religion itself, or of the fact that she can foresee how her envy toward Lola (a capital sin) will soon drive her to commit another terrible act.

This is pretty clear if you read Verga's novel, which includes between the lines Santuzza's fornication and the fact that all the village talks about it, and in clear sight the fact that Santuzza is driven by pure envy and anger toward Lola, who stole her Turiddu.

[AmaiaMAGO]

WHAT IS THE VIRGIN DOIIIING??? WHAT AN INVENTION
very good sung guys!!! i sung it several times