Cavalleria rusticana: Character Map
Cavalleria rusticana: Roles
| Turiddu | a young villager | tenor |
| Santuzza | a peasant girl | soprano |
| Lucia | Turiddu’s mother | contralto |
| Alfio | a carter | baritone |
| Lola | Alfio’s wife | mezzo-soprano |
- Native title: Cavalleria rusticana
- Composers: Pietro Mascagni
- Librettist: Giovanni Targioni-Tozzett, Guido Menasci
- Based on: Cavalleria rusticana by Giovanni Verga
- Language: Italian
- Premiere: May 17, 1890, Teatro Costanzi, Rome
- Running time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Cavalleria rusticana: Summary
Events before the main story
Turiddu and Lola were engaged. While he was in the service, Laura married another man. Turiddu, out of spite, became lovers with Santuzza.
Cavalleria rusticana
Turiddu and Laura were having an affair. Santuzza wants to get back together with Turiddu, but Turiddu coldly rejects her.
SantuzzaAre you going to abandon me? Is there no point in crying and begging? You’ll be sorry for this.
TuridduGo away. I don’t care if you’re mad at me or not.
Santuzza reveals their affair to Alfio, Laura’s husband. The duel between Turiddu and Alfio. Turiddu’s death.
Cavalleria rusticana: Act1, Synopsis
The village square in Sicily
From behind the scenes, the sound of singing
TuridduLola, you have skin as white as a blouse and milk. When you smile, I’m happy. I don’t care if someone kills me. I won’t go to heaven without you.
O Lola ch’ai di latti la cammisa
Easter Day. Facing the square, there is a church on one side and a tavern (Turiddu’s mother’s shop) on the other.
Santuzza, Turiddu’s lover, and Turiddu’s mother appear. They are talking as they walk towards the tavern.
SantuzzaCan you tell me where Turiddu is?
Lucia
I don’t know. I don’t want to get into any trouble. I think he went to the next town to buy some wine.
SantuzzaNo, it’s not. Someone saw him in the village last night.
Lucia
What? If he’s not back home…
Alfio arrives with the whip and clatter of the carriage.
Alfio
Horses snorting their feet whips cracking. Here we go. Rain, snow, or cold wind, it doesn’t matter.
At home, Laura is waiting for me. She loves me, she comforts me, she is faithful.
Il cavallo scalpita
Hello, you two. Do you have the usual wine?
Lucia
We’ve sold out of that drink. My son has just gone to the next town to buy some wine.
Alfio
No, he’s been in town all along. I saw him this morning near my house.
Santuzza stops Turiddu’s mother when she tries to talk to him. Unaware of their attitude, Alfio goes to the church.
Lucia
Why did you stop the conversation?
SantuzzaAs you may know, Turiddu and Laura were engaged to be married.
When he returned from his military service, Laura had married another man. Turiddu healed his broken heart with a new love, my love.
But Lola began to love Turiddu again, behind her husband’s back. I lost my honor and my chastity.
Voi lo sapete, o mamma
Lucia
On this holy day, you have taken the trouble to inform me of something unpleasant. Oh, no, we’re miserable! I’m going to church.
Lucia has gone off to church. In the village square, Santuzza is alone and Turiddu appears.
TuridduThere you are. Santuzza.
Tu qui, Santuzza?
SantuzzaLaura’s husband told me that he saw you near his house.
TuridduI’ve made love to you. And this is how you repay me? By harassing me? You wouldn’t mind if he killed me, would you?
Santuzza accuses him of cheating and Turiddu takes it out on her. In a good mood, Laura comes in singing.
Lola
O Iris flower, there are a thousand beautiful angels in heaven, but only one as handsome as he.
Fior di giaggiolo
Turiddu, did my husband come through? Do you two listen to Mass in this place? (Sarcasm)
SantuzzaI’m not going. Only innocent people should go to Mass.
Lola
Yes, thank God, I’m going, aren’t I? (Sarcasm)
TuridduLola, let’s go to church. There’s no point in staying here. (Sarcasm)
SantuzzaWait! Turiddu, I need to talk to you!
Lola walked into the church, mocking Santuzza.
TuridduYou’re embarrassing me!
Turiddu is furious and tries to grab Santuzza.
SantuzzaAre you going to abandon me? Is there no point in crying and begging?
You’ll be sorry for this.
TuridduGo away. I don’t care if you’re mad at me or not.
He cursed, knocked Santuzza to the ground, and walked into the church alone.
Lola’s husband was passing by Santuzza.
Alfio
How’s the church?
SantuzzaGod must have sent Lola’s husband for me.
Mass is almost over. A word for you.
Lola will be with Turiddu. Not only today, but when you are away from home for work, they are always together.
Oh! Il Signore vi manda
Alfio is skeptical at first but believes Santuzza’s words.
Alfio
What a shameless bunch they are. I’ll have my revenge today.
He leaves, furious.
Intermezzo
In front of the church
Mass is over and people are coming out of the church. Turiddu pretends to be unfriendly and calls out to Laura.
TuridduLaura. Are you leaving already? Since you’re here, why don’t you join me in a toast?
Shining glasses, bubbling wine, let’s drink merrily! (To Laura) For your love.
Viva il vino spumeggiante
Lola
(To Turiddu) Wish you luck.
Among the drunk people, Laura’s husband appears and approaches Turiddu. Turiddu tries to give him some liquor, but he refuses to accept it.
Alfio
I don’t want your drink. Your liquor is poisonous when I drink it.
Turiddu dumps his drink on the ground. Laura watches them anxiously. She is urged by the village women to leave the place.
the village women
Laura, you’re not supposed to be here.
Turiddu bites Laura’s husband’s ear. (Sicilian Dueling Etiquette) They decide to fight a duel.
Alfio
You bit me pretty bad. Now I know what you’re thinking.
TuridduI know I’m wrong. But if I die, poor Santuzza will be the only one left. So I’m going to take your life.
Alfio
You can do whatever you want. I’ll be waiting for you in the vineyard outback.
Turiddu calls his mother.
TuridduMom. This wine is strong. If I don’t return, I want you to be Santuzza’s mother. I swore I’d marry her.
Mamma,Quel vino è generoso
Lucia
Why do you suddenly say that?
Turiddu is leaving the store.
Lucia is confused and doesn’t know what to do. Santuzza appears and they hug each other.
the village women
Turiddu has been killed.
Santuzza and Lucia are so shocked that they lose consciousness.