Cavalleria rusticana is the short opera that has all the elements of a grand opera compressed into a single highly dramatic time span. The story of love, lust, blood-feud and betrayal played out against the pageantry of the Easter celebrations in a Sicilian village delivers an emotional wallop because of the youthful vigor and musical wealth of it's great score which includes the glorious Easter Hymn and the deeply moving Intermezzo. Mascagni was never to repeat his youthful success but this brief work is enough to ensure his immortality. 1 CD with 12-page booklet.

Tracklist:

Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Background: Introduction
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Background: History
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Background: The bel canto: Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Background: Verdi
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Background: Puccini and the verismo school
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Background: Bizet's Carmen
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Background: Mascagni
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Background: Mascagni's other operas
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Cavalleria rusticana: Prelude and Sicilian setting
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Cavalleria rusticana: Beginning
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Cavalleria rusticana: The Easter Hymn
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Cavalleria rusticana: Sin and sanctity
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Cavalleria rusticana: Santuzza confronts Turiddu
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Cavalleria rusticana: Turiddu drinks and Alfio makes his challenge
Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana: Cavalleria rusticana: Turiddu says goodbye before the duel

UPC: 636943808023
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 3.16.04
Format: CD

David Timson - Opera Explained: Cavalleria Rusticana (CD)