The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-16
"CAVALLERIA RUsTICANA."


to BE Given TO-Morrow Night.
In Tomlinson Hall tomorrow night Pietro
Mascagni. the foremost living Italian COM
poser and conductor, will give his first per-
Torrance in this city. He will be assisted
by his own full operate company, includ-
ing principals, large orchestra and chorus,
brought from Italy. The first part of the
evening will be devoted to an operate con-
cert programme, after which will be given
entire the opera of "Cavalleria Rusticana,"
Mascagni's greatest work, and which I'M
der the direction of the composer is said
to reveal many new beauties. The story of
the opera follows:
"Cavalleria Rusticana." an opera in one
act, words by Signori ACKNOWLEDGMENT
and Menasci. music by Pietro Mascagni,
was written in 1890 and was first performed
at the Costanzi Theater in Rome May 20
of that year. 1t had its first American
production in Philadelphia Sept 8, 1891,
with Nine. Kronold as SantuZza, Miss
Campbell as Lola. Guile as Turridu. Del
Puente as Alto and JEANNE Teal as Lucia.
The story upon which the text of ''Caval-
leria Rusticana' is based is taken from
Sicilian tale by Giovanni Verga. 1t is pc
culiarly Italian in its motive, running a
swift, sure gamut of love, Irritation,
jealousy and death-a melodrama of a pas
sionate and tragic sort amid somewhat
squalid environments that particularly
lends itself to music of Mascagni's forceful
sort. The overture graphically presents
the main themes of the opera, and these
themes illustrate a very simple but strong
story Turridu, young Siciian peasant,
arrived home from army service, finds that
his old love. Lola, during his absence has
married Alto, a carter. To console himself
he makes love 10 Santuzza. who returns
his passion with ardor. The inconstant
Turridu, however, soon tires of her and
makes fresh advances to Lola, who. in
spired by her jealousy of Santuzza and her
natural coquetry, SMILES upon him again.
The latter seeks 10 reclaim him. and when
she Is rudely REFUSED tells the story of
Lola's perfidy TO Alto, who challenges Tur-
ridu and kills him.
During the overture Turridu sings a
charming Siciliana GO Lola chat di Lat
til and the curtain rises. disclosing a
Sicilian village with a church decorated
for Easter service. AS the sacristan opens
hymn TO the Madonna. \ hurried duet fol-
lows in which Santuzza reveals to Mother
Lucia her grief at the perfidy of Turridu.
Her discourse is interrupted by the en-
trance of Alto singing a rollicking whip
song (''I Cavallo Scalpita'D with accom-
paniment of male chorus The scene then
develops into a trio. closing with hymn
(-'Innegsiamo. il Signor') sung by the peo-
pie in the square and led by SantuZZa her
self. and blending with the Regina Coeli''
performed by the choir inside the church
with organ accompaniment, the number
finally working uD into a tremendous eli
max in genuine Italian style.
story TO Lucia, Turridu's mother in
romanza OF great power (''Voi 10 sapete')
closing with an outburst of the highest
significance she appeals 10 Lucia to
pray for her. In the next scene Turridu
enters. SantuZza upbraids him and a pas
sionate duet follows in which SantuZza' :
his avowal OF his passion for Lola. The
duet Is interrupted by a song of the latter
heard in the distance, with harp accompan-
iment c'Fior di giaggiolo y AS she an
proaehes the pair the song grows livelier
and at its close she banters poor Santuzza
with biting sarcasm, and assails Turridu