Pietro Mascagni was born in Leghorn, Italy, on December 7, 1863. He
studied music with private teachers in Leghorn, then for several years
attended the Milan Conservatory. In 1884 he was appointed conductor of
the municipal band in Cerignola. Meanwhile in 1880 he had completed his
first opera, _Pinotta_. Success as composer came later in 1890 with the
world première of the opera, _Cavalleria Rusticana_ in Rome. A sensation
when first introduced, _Cavalleria Rusticana_ made the rounds of the
world capitals to enjoy a triumph experienced by few operas before or
since. Mascagni wrote many operas after that. Though he enjoyed varying
degrees of success with _L’Amico Fritz_ in 1891 and _Iris_ in 1898, he
never again duplicated the acclaim given _Cavalleria Rusticana_; and it
is still the only one of his operas performed in the world’s foremost
opera houses. As he himself once said sadly: “It is a pity I wrote
_Cavalleria_ first. I was crowned before I became king.” Mascagni made
many tours as a conductor. He visited the United States in 1902 in
performances of several of his operas, and South America in 1911. In
1929 he succeeded Toscanini as musical director of La Scala in Milan.
Identifying himself closely with the Fascist regime—even to the point of
writing an opera, _Nerone_, glorifying Mussolini—Mascagni was subjected
to considerable abuse and attack after World War II. He was deprived of
his property and other assets. The last year of his life was lived in
poverty and disrepute in a small hotel room in Rome, where he died on
August 2, 1945.
_Cavalleria Rusticana_ is a one-act opera, libretto by Giovanni
Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci based on a short story by Giovanni
Verga. The setting is Sicily in the latter part of the 19th century.
Turiddu, a soldier, is in love with Lola, wife of Alfio, a teamster. But
he has also conducted an illicit affair with Santuzza. When Turiddu
rudely rejects Santuzza, she finds revenge by revealing to Alfio the
love intrigue existing between Lola and Turiddu. In the duel that
follows Alfio kills Turiddu.
The most celebrated single excerpt from the opera is the melodious
Intermezzo for orchestra which accompanies the departing townspeople as
they leave church after the Easter services. This music is radiant with
the holiness and serenity of the Easter holiday.
Other popular excerpts include the lovely Siciliana, “_O Lola bianca_,”
a tenor aria which is sung offstage and breaks into the middle of the
opening orchestral prelude; this is a serenade by Turiddu to Lola, sung
to harp accompaniment. Santuzza’s passionate aria, “_Voi lo sapete_” is
the one in which she first discloses to Alfio that his wife and Turiddu
are lovers. Turiddu’s deeply emotional aria, “_Addio alla madre_” is his
poignant farewell to his mother just before he engages in the duel in
which he meets his doom.