“Cavalleria rusticana”
by Pietro Mascagni libretto (English)
| CHARACTERS |
| Santuzza (a young peasant woman) — Soprano Turiddu (a young peasant) — Tenor Lucia (his mother) — Contralto Alfio (a carter) — Baritone Lola (his wife) — Mezzo-soprano Time and Place The scene represents a village square in Sicily. At the back, on the right, a church with a practical door. On the left, the inn and Mamma Lucia’s house. It is Easter Day. (The curtain is down.) |
| SCENE FIRST |
| Chorus Women (from within) The orange trees are fragrant on the green borders, the larks are singing among the flowering myrtles; it is time for everyone to murmur the tender song that makes the heart beat twice as fast. Men (from within) In the midst of the fields, among the golden ears of grain, the sound of your shuttles reaches us; weary, as we rest from our labor, we think of you, O sunny-eyed beauties. O sunny-eyed beauties, to you we hasten, as a bird flies to its call. (The chorus enters the stage) Women Let the rustic labors cease: the serene Virgin rejoices in the Savior! (The chorus crosses the stage and exits) |
| SCENE SECOND |
| Santuzza and Lucia Santuzza (entering) Tell me, Mother Lucia... Lucia (surprised) Is that you?... What do you want? Santuzza Where is Turiddu? Lucia You come all the way here to look for my son? Santuzza I only want to know, forgive me, where I may find him. Lucia I don’t know, I don’t know; I want no trouble! Santuzza Mother Lucia, I beg you through my tears, do as the Lord did for Magdalene; for pity’s sake, tell me where Turiddu is... Lucia He has gone to Francofonte for the wine. Santuzza No!... He was seen in the village late last night... Lucia What are you saying?... He hasn’t come home! (going toward the door of her house) Come in... Santuzza (desperately) I cannot enter your house... I am excommunicated! Lucia And what do you know about my son? Santuzza What a thorn I have in my heart! |
| SCENE THIRD |
| Alfio, Chorus, and the aforementioned Alfio The horse paws the ground, the bells are ringing, the whip cracks.—Hey there!— Let the icy wind blow, let the rain fall and the snow come, what do I care? Chorus Oh, what a fine trade to be a carter, going here and there! Alfio At home Lola awaits me, she loves me and consoles me, she is faithfulness itself. Let the horse paw the ground, let the bells ring, it’s Easter, and I am here! Chorus Oh, what a fine trade to be a carter, going here and there! Lucia Lucky you, Compare Alfio, always so cheerful! Alfio Mother Lucia, do you still have some of that old wine? Lucia I don’t know; Turiddu has gone to get some. Alfio But he’s right here!—I saw him this morning near my house. Lucia (surprised) What? Santuzza (quickly) Be quiet! (the Alleluia is heard being sung from the church) Alfio I’m leaving; you others go to church. (exits) Chorus within (from the church) Regina coeli, laetare—Alleluia! Quia, quem meruisti portare—Alleluia! Resurrexit sicut dixit—Alleluia! Chorus outside (in the square) Let us sing praises, the Lord is not dead. Radiant, He has opened the tomb; let us sing praises to the risen Lord, today ascended to the glory of Heaven! (the Chorus slowly exits) |
| SCENE FOURTH |
| Lucia and Santuzza Lucia Why did you signal me to be quiet? Santuzza You know, Mother, before he went off to be a soldier, Turiddu had sworn eternal faithfulness to Lola. He returned and found her married; and with a new love he sought to extinguish the flame that burned within his heart: he loved me, I loved him. She, envious of all my happiness, forgetting her own husband, burned with jealousy... She stole him from me. Robbed of my honor, I remain: Lola and Turiddu love each other; I weep, I weep, I weep! Lucia Woe to us! What have you come to tell me on this holy day? Santuzza I am damned... Go, Mother, and implore God, and pray for me.—Turiddu will come; I want to plead with him one more time! Lucia (going toward the church) Help her, Holy Mary! (exits) |
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