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Rating: On the evening of May 17, 1890, at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, the world premiere of a one-act melodrama written by an unknown musician from Livorno, Pietro Mascagni from Cerignola, was staged. Despite initial doubts, that evening was just the beginning of a long series of triumphs with both the public and critics.
O Lola ch'ai di latti la cammisa
Si bianca e russa comu la cirasa,
Quannu t'affacci fai la vucca a risa,
Biato cui ti dà lu primu vasu!
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu è sparsu,
E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu...
E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu
Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
Personally, I believe that opera is that artistic expression that, along with cinema, can most closely approach the idea of supreme art (in potential). A journey into great music as well as into color, movement, and literature. Like a reinforced meeting point between, as Tatarkiewicz would say, the "fine arts," those that directly address the viewer's senses, and "poetry" with its purely intelligible signs. Indeed, Cavalleria Rusticana is all of this. Based on a drama by the great Italian novelist Giovanni Verga, it combines its sensory elements, its great music and atmosphere, with a touching and moving story that, alongside strong emotion, transports us into a whirlwind of feelings. Not simply disdain for Turiddu's adultery or for the violence (initially latent and then exploding at the end) in the murder of Turiddu himself, but rather pity for the humanity of his error, fear for the tragic ending, which seems marked from the start. Because any of us might have found ourselves in his place. From his initial love song to Lola to his final farewell to his mother, it is all an intertwining of emotions that make us empathize and confront his story. And again: admiration for the pride of all the characters:
The horse prances,
The bells ring,
The whip cracks. And off we go!
The cold wind may blow,
Rain may fall or snow,
What does it matter to me?
Lola awaits me at home
Who loves and consoles me,
Who is all fidelity.
The horse may prance,
The bells may ring,
It's Easter, and here I am!
Naturally, I am saying nothing new. Aristotle had already outlined the same concepts in his "Poetics": drama, besides having a "cathartic" function on our feelings, also has the merit of pushing us to pose purely philosophical questions (ethical, in particular, but not exclusively), and this happens so strongly in this incredible masterpiece.
Cavalleria Rusticana is set on the motifs of love, jealousy, and honor. Turiddu manages to rekindle his relationship with Lola (married to Alfio) by making her jealous by courting Santuzza. She, however, discovers everything and reveals it to Alfio.
The story will resolve with a rustic duel.
Compar Alfio!
I know the fault is mine:
And I swear to you
In the name of God
That like a dog
I would have my throat cut,
But... if I don't live...
(This is, in my opinion, the most beautiful moment of the work: Turiddu, despite Santuzza's revenge, recalls the wrong she suffered because of him. And he says: I can no longer die. I cannot leave her alone. Now she is my only reason for living.)
Left abandoned...
Left abandoned...
Poor Santa!...
She who gave herself to me...
Left abandoned...
She who gave herself to me...
Poor Santa!...
And finally, the ultimate farewell to his mother.
But first I want
You to bless me,
Like that day
I left as a soldier.
And then... mother... listen...
If... I did not return...
You shall have to act
As a mother to Santa,
Whom I had promised
To lead to the altar...
Impossible not to feel a vivid emotion and hold back tears. Art at these levels is always both a cross and delight for our poor heart.
It's useless to say anything about this version of the work, dated 1968 but, despite that, rich with a unique freshness. The name "Karajan" says it all. The execution is masterful from every point of view, and even the symphonic interludes shine in all their immeasurable beauty.
To be lived.
Pray to God for me!
Pray to God for me!
A kiss, mother...
Another kiss...
Another kiss..
farewell!
If... I did not return...
act as a mother to Santa...
A kiss...
Mother...
farewell!....
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