('Rustic Chivalry')
Mascagni
Relayed from The Old Vic
The plot of the opera is founded on a well-known Sicilian story of village life, and is in one act, without change of scene. It begins with a serenade, sung before the curtain rises.
Turiddu, the singer, and Lola, to whom it is addressed, had been sweethearts, but when Turiddu went off soldiering, the inconstant Lola had married Alfio, a wagoner.
Tho curtain rises on a village in holiday mood.
It is Easter morning, and, while some are bound for church, others are clearly bent on pleasure.
Gradually the villagers go off, until only Lucia, Turiddu's mother, and Santuzza, a village girl, are left. Santuzza feels she dare not enter the church, and to Lucia she confesses her griefs. When Turiddu came back and found Lola married to another, he had turned to Santuzza for consolation, but now has deserted her in her need. Lucia promises to help. Turiddu comes in, on his way to church, and Santuzza reproaches him bitterly, begging him to return to her. But just then Lola passes, and Turiddu roughly throws
Santuzza from him to follow Lola into the church. As Santuzza raises herself from the ground, Alfio comes ou the scene, looking for his wife, Lola. Bitterly hurt as she is by Turiddu's heedless treatment of her, Santuzza pours out the whole story of Lola's infidelity, and Alfio vows vengeance. They go off together, and while the stage remains empty the Intermezzo is played, which must be one of the best known pieces of music in existence. As it dies away, people come out of church, and Turiddu invites his friends to drink with him at his mother's wine-shop. Alfio joins them, and Turiddu asks him to drink, but he refuses. The women scent the coming tragedy, and carry off Lola, as Alfio issues his challenge to Turiddu; according to Sicilian custom, the two men embrace, and Turiddu bites his enemy's car. Alfio goes off to the place appointed for the duel. Turiddu seeks his mother and bids her farewell, asking her to watch over Santuzza if he should not return, and he, too, goes off. Santuzza rushes in and flings herself into Lucia's arms. and tho crowd comes back, seething with excitement. From the distance voices are heard, and a sudden cry that Turiddu is killed, and, as the two women fall fainting, the curtain is quickly lowered.