Opera Explained: MASCAGNI - Cavalleria rusticana (Smillie)



Sample Track


Opera Explained: Cavalleria rusticana
Timson, David, reader



Background: Introduction 04:40


Opera Explained
An Introduction to... MASCAGNI: Cavalleria rusticana
Written by Thomson Smillie
Narrated by David Timson
1 CD
12-page booklet
ISBN: 1-84379-084-X
8.558080

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 vigour and musical wealth of its 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.