Cavalleria Rusticarna by Pietro Mascagni is an Italian tragedy which is in stark contrast to the first comedy in the double billing. Back stage I could hear the director telling the cast that they should be ready for a very loud snapping sound.
The opera is about unrequited love. Santuzza played by Audrey Babcock was excommunicated from the Catholic Church. Audrey’s voice had me transfixed and I stopped sketching long enough to read some of the subtitles as she set an Easter cures on her husband Turiddu played by Dominick Valdes-Chenes who had clearly wronged her. He wronged her by having an affair with Lola played by Avery Boettcher who is the wife of Alfio played by John Robert Green.
The entire cast was on stage celebrating a glorious Sunday morning when Alfio played by John Robert Green swept onto stage dressed all in black. He snapped a giant bull whip which snapped loudly. The shocked reactions of some of the cast were legitimate. Alfio had discovered the affair between his wife Lola and Turiddu and he was pissed! He later brandished a glittering blade to exact his revenge. The act was shockingly brutal.
Since I was sketching I had little time to read the subtitles but I could follow the action regardless.
The Opera show dates in this double billing are Friday & Sunday, April 25 & 27, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. & 2 p.m. Tickets are available now.