Cavalleria Rusticana (Prelude) - P. Mascagni

Cavalleria Rusticana is a tempestuous drama of adultery and revenge set in a remote Italian village. Its earthy passions, bold confrontational scenes and richly melodic score set a fashion for so-called 'verismo' opera that would endure for more than a decade.Ultimately Cavalleria Rusticana became Mascagni's most successful opera. It is still a great repertoire favorite, almost always double-billed with Ruggiero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.The Preludio to the opera is interrupted by the Siciliano sung by Turrido behind the curtain accompanied by the harp. It's an aubade to his new love, Lola and sung in Sicilian dialect. The Preludio can aslo be played without the Siciliana.