This composer is too contemporary to be discussed freely. He has done no great amount of work, and fame came to him in his youth. “Cavalleria Rusticana” is his supreme performance, and there is in it a promise of greater things.

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

(Rustic Chivalry)

CHARACTERS OF THE OPERA

Santuzza.
Lola.
Turiddu.
Alfio.
Lucia.

Peasants.

The story is of peasant people in a small Sicilian village, on an
Easter day.

Composer: Pietro Mascagni.
Authors: Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci.

First sung at Rome, May 20, 1890.

ACT I

One fine Easter morning, in a small Italian village, a fop, named Turiddu, came along the little street singing of Lola, an old sweetheart, who, since Turiddu went to serve his required term in the army, had married a wagoner. Turiddu was far from heartbroken, because when he returned and first heard of Lola’s faithlessness, he straightway fell in love with a worthier girl Santuzza. Neither Lola nor Turiddu was a faithful sort, but lived for a good time to-day, leaving luck to look after to-morrow; but it was not the same with Santuzza. She truly loved Turiddu, and being an Italian peasant, very emotional and excitable, it was going to be dangerous for Turiddu to ill-treat her.

If that Easter morning found Turiddu quite gay and free, it found Santuzza full of despair and misgiving, because she knew that her lover had returned to his former sweetheart. Lola’s husband, the wagoner, was frequently away from his home, and in his absence his wife had been flirting. In a little village, where everybody knew everybody else, and all of each other’s business, Santuzza’s companions had learned that Turiddu had thrown his new love over for the old, and instead of pitying her, they had ridiculed and treated her unkindly.

On a Sunday morning, just before the villagers started to church, Santuzza started for Turiddu’s home. He lived near the church, with Lucia, his old mother. Santuzza had been thinking all night of what she could do to win her lover back; and at daylight had risen with the determination to go to old Lucia, and tell her how her son had misbehaved. In Italy, even grown sons and daughters obey their parents more promptly than the small children in America ever do. Santuzza, all tears and worn with sleeplessness, thought possibly Lucia could prevail upon Turiddu to keep his word and behave more like an honest man. All the little village was astir early, because Easter is a fête day in Italy, and the people make merry, as well as go to church. The peasants were passing and repassing through the little square as Santuzza entered it. She looked very sad and her eyes were swollen with crying. But no one paid any attention to her as all were going into the church for early mass. After the crowd had gone in, the sound of the organ and of the congregation’s voices could be heard in the square. They sang an Easter carol about flowers and carolling larks and orange blossoms which did not make Santuzza any the happier; but she went to the door of old Lucia’s house and called softly:

“Mama Lucia Mama Lucia art thou there?”

“Thou, Santuzza? What wilt thou, my dear?” the old woman answered, hobbling out.

“Mama Lucia, where is thy son?” Santuzza demanded.

“Thou hast come to see Turiddu? I do not know, my girl. I have nothing to do with quarrels, you must understand,” she answered cautiously, half suspecting Santuzza’s trouble, because she had already suffered many times on account of her son’s faithlessness to others.

“Mama Lucia, I beg of you not to turn me away. Listen to my troubles. It is thy son who has caused them, and I must see him,” Santuzza sobbed.

“Well, I cannot help thee though I am truly sorry for thee,” the mother answered, after a moment, observing all the signs of the sorrow that Santuzza felt. “He is not at home. He has gone to fetch the wine from Francofonte.”

“No, no he hasn’t. He was seen about the village only last night.”

“Who told thee that? I, his mother, should know if he is at home or not.”

“Mama Lucia, do not turn me away I am in great sorrow, and you will be unhappy all your life if you ill-treat me now.” At this they were disturbed by the cracking of whips and jingling of bells which told of the return to town of the wagoner. Alfio was returning on Easter morning in time to join the gaiety with his wife, Lola.

He came in jauntily, singing:

Soon all the neighbours appeared to welcome him. He was a most popular fellow unlike Turiddu, who was a favourite mainly with the girls.

“Well, about all I have wished for all the week, neighbours, was to get home here to my wife, that we might spend this Easter day together. When I am away, I think of nothing but her, you may be sure! I can’t stop here with you, jolly as you are. Lola is certain to be waiting for me, so off I go!” and the wagoner waved his hand gaily and was about to hurry off, while some went back into the church again, and some went to their homes. But Mama Lucia could not but regard him anxiously. She, herself, was in trouble over her wild son.

“Ah, Alfio, you are always in such high spirits ”

“Hello, Mama Lucia! Good day to you have you any more of that famous wine?” Lucia’s house was also the village inn, where the folks congregated to drink their wine, to play cards, and have a good gossip.

“No, not now; Turiddu has gone to Francofonte to get it.”

“You are wrong: I met him near my cottage as I came into the village this very morning,” the wagoner answered, and at the same moment Santuzza pulled old Lucia’s skirt, signing to her to be silent. But the old woman, surprised and confused at the turn things seemed to be taking, persisted:

“How so? Are you certain of that?”

“Oh, yes, perfectly sure. And now I must be going: Lola will be expecting me,” the unsuspicious wagoner answered, turning in earnest to go home. Now, while old Lucia and Santuzza stood without, the choir in the church sang:

And those peasants who had gradually wandered back into the square knelt, as they heard the prayer. The scene was very devotional and beautiful, with the exquisite music floating out from the church, and the reverent people gathering about it. Presently they broke into a joyous chorus of “Hallelujah! Christ is risen!” while Santuzza and old Lucia joined in spite of their sadness. But after all had wandered away, old Lucia approached Santuzza:

“Why didst thou caution me not to speak when Alfio said he had seen my son near his house?” she asked, anxiously, already half guessing the reason.

“Good mama, do you not know that before Turiddu went to the war he was Lola’s lover; and at first after he returned he cared for me, but now he has forgotten me and is again making love to Lola? If the wagoner knew of this, what do you think he would do?”

“Oh, what hast thou told me upon this holy morning! You are right if Alfio knew of this he would kill them both maybe. He surely would kill my son.”

“It seems to me all are cursed this beautiful day. Go and pray for us all, Mama Lucia, and so will I,” Santuzza replied. And she was about to enter the church to say her prayers when there came Turiddu, himself, dressed in his best, ready to meet Lola in the square as she passed on her way to the church.

“Turiddu!” Santuzza called.

“Devils! What are you here for, Santuzza? Are you on your way to church?”

“Not now. I am here to speak with you ”

“Well, well, I cannot stop for it; I must go into the inn and see my mother just now.”

“You must stay here and speak with me. I warn you to do it, Turiddu. I am very unhappy, and if you will give up Lola I will forget all your wrongdoing. But if you neglect me, and will not give up Alfio’s wife, Alfio will surely learn of it and make you trouble.”

“Oh, come now do you think you can frighten me? I will be a slave to no woman’s whim, Santuzza. Go about your business. I shall attend to mine without your help. No, I will listen to you no longer,” he cried, becoming angrier as she spoke, and pushing her away from him, as Lola, in the street near the square could be heard singing.

Santuzza and Turiddu both paused and listened. She was singing of Turiddu. She was calling him her “King of Roses.” And then, while the two were standing uncertain what to do, Lola entered the square and spied them.

“Hello,” she called loftily, looking at Santuzza. “Have you seen Alfio, Turiddu?”

“No, I have only just now come into the square.”

“Oh, perhaps you have come to church,” she persisted impertinently.

“I I stopped to tell Santuzza ” he hardly knew what to say.

“I stopped to see Turiddu,” Santuzza interrupted earnestly. “I stopped to say that the good Lord beholds all our deeds.”

“Ah then you are not going to mass?”

“No those who go to mass must have a clear conscience. Which of us here has that?”

“Really I know nothing about you,” Lola answered; “as for mine it is clear!” Turiddu foreseeing trouble between them interrupted hastily.

“Let us go in,” speaking to Lola.

“Oh, stay with Santuzza and her conscience! do!”

“Yes, Turiddu I warn you!” At that Lola laughed and went into the church.

“Now what have you done? By your folly, angered Lola. I am done with you!” Turiddu exclaimed, throwing off Santuzza, who held him back while she spoke. He became so enraged that he treated her brutally; and in trying to rid himself of her he threw her down upon the stones, and then ran into the church. When she got upon her feet again she was furious with anger.

“Now I will punish him for all his faithlessness,” she sobbed, and she no sooner took this resolve than fate seemed to give her the means of carrying it out, for at that moment Alfio came back into the square.

“Oh, neighbour Alfio! God himself must have sent you here!”

“At what point is the service?”

“It is almost over, but I must tell you Lola is gone to it with Turiddu.”

“What do you mean by that?” Alfio demanded, regarding her in wonder.

“I mean that while you are about your business Turiddu remains here, and your wife finds in him a way to pass the time. She does not love you.”

“If you are not telling me the truth,” Alfio said, with anguish, “I’ll certainly kill you.”

“You have only to watch you will know the truth fast enough,” she persisted.

Alfio stood a moment in indecision and looked at her steadfastly.

“Santuzza, I believe you. Your words and the sadness of your face convince me. I will avenge us both.” And off he ran. For a moment Santuzza was glad, then remorse overtook her. Now Turiddu would be killed! She was certain of it. Alfio was not a man to be played with. Surely Turiddu would be killed! And there was his old mother, too, who would be left quite alone. When it was too late, Santuzza repented having spoken. She tried to recall Alfio, but he had gone.

The organ within the church swelled loudly again, and, the music being most beautiful, Santuzza stood listening in an agony of mind. Soon people began to come out, and old Lucia hobbled from the church in her turn, and crossed to her inn, followed by the young men and women. The men were all going home to their wives, and the women to their duties, but it was proposed that all should stop a moment at old Lucia’s for a glass of her famous wine before they separated. As they went to the bar of the inn, which was out under the trees, Lola and Turiddu came from the church together.

“I must hurry home now I haven’t seen Alfio yet and he will be in a rage,” she said.

“Not so fast there is plenty of time! Come, neighbours, have a glass of wine with us,” Turiddu cried to the crowd, going to his mother’s bar, and there they gathered singing a gay drinking song.

“To those who love you!” Turiddu pledged, lifting his glass and looking at Lola. She nodded and answered:

“To your good fortune, brother!” And while they were speaking Alfio entered.

“Greeting to you all,” he called.

“Good! come and join us,” Turiddu answered.

“Thank you! but I should expect you to poison me if I were to drink with you, my friend,” and the wagoner looked meaningly at Turiddu.

“Oh well, suit yourself,” Turiddu replied, nonchalantly. Then a neighbour standing near Lola whispered:

“You had better leave here, Lola. Come home with me. I can foresee trouble here.” Lola took her advice and went out, with all the women following her.

“Well, now that you have frightened away all the women by your behaviour, maybe you have something to say to me privately,” Turiddu remarked, turning to Alfio.

“Nothing except that I am going to kill you this instant!”

“You think so? then we will embrace,” Turiddu exclaimed, proposing the custom of the place and throwing his arms about his enemy. When he did so, Alfio bit Turiddu’s ear, which, in Sicily, is a challenge to a duel.

“Good! I guess we understand each other.”

“Well, I own that I have done you wrong and Santuzza wrong. Altogether, I am a bad fellow; but if you are going to kill me, I must bid my mother good-bye, and also give Santuzza into her care. After all, I have some grace left, whether you think so or not,” Turiddu cried, and then he called his mother out, while Alfio went away with the understanding that Turiddu should immediately follow and get the fight over.

“Mama,” Turiddu then said to old Lucia when she hobbled out, “that wine of ours is certainly very exciting. I am going out to walk it off, and I want your blessing before I go.” He tried to keep up a cheerful front that he might not frighten his old mother. At least he had the grace to behave himself fairly well, now that the end had come.

“If I shouldn’t come back ”

“What can you mean, my son?” the old woman whispered, trembling with fear.

“Nothing, nothing, except that even before I go to walk, I want your promise to take Santuzza to live with you. Now that is all! I’m off. Good-bye, God bless you, mother. I love you very much.” Before she hardly knew what had happened, Turiddu was off and away. She ran to the side of the square and called after him, but he did not return. Instead, Santuzza ran in.

“Oh, Mama Lucia,” she cried, throwing her arms about her.

Then the people who had met Alfio and Turiddu on their way to their encounter began to rush in. Everybody was wildly excited. Both men were village favourites in their way. A great noise of rioting was heard and some one shrieked in the distance.

“Oh, neighbour, neighbour, Turiddu is killed, Turiddu is killed!” At this nearly every one in the little village came running, while Santuzza fell upon the ground in a faint.

“He is killed! Alfio has killed him!” others cried, running in, and then poor old Lucia fell unconscious beside Santuzza, while the neighbours gathered about her, lifted her up and carried her into her lonely inn.