Coliseu Porto Ageas returns to major opera productions with “Cavalleria Rusticana”
In the year that marks its 80th anniversary, the Coliseu returns opera to Porto, in a logic of diversity and collaboration with different artistic structures, with the commission of a new production of “Cavalleria Rusticana”, the masterpiece by Pietro Mascagni. The premiere takes place on the night of June 9th and features the Opera Choir and Orchestra at Academia and Cidade.
With musical direction by conductor José Ferreira Lobo, staging by Alfonso Romero and scenography by Miguel Massip, “Cavalleria Rusticana” is an opera in one act where love, betrayal and revenge are the main ingredients.
Premiered in Rome, in 1890, and considered the first Italian verista opera, a trend that introduced greater realism in the narrative, as opposed to romanticism, “Cavalleria Rusticana” will be presented at Coliseu Porto Ageas with national artistic bodies and soloists, or fixed in Portugal, of great talent, such as Maria Ermolaeva (Santuzza), Pedro Rodrigues (Turiddu), Gisela Sachse (Lucia), Pedro Telles (Alfio) and Patrícia Quintas (Lola).
The action takes place on Easter morning, in a Sicilian village, and tells the story of Turiddu and Santuzza. Returning home from military service, Turiddu discovers that his fiancée, Lola, has married Alfio, a wealthy peasant. Hoping to make him jealous, Turiddu seduces Santuzza. Lola ends up getting involved with Turiddu, and Santuzza, heartbroken, reveals to Alfio the infidelity between the two lovers. Challenged by Alfio to a duel, Turiddu says goodbye to his mother and leaves for their encounter, which could be fatal.
With libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, “Cavalleria Rusticana” contains some of the most beautiful arias, such as the Sicilian “O Lola c’hai di latti la cammisa”, the powerful anthem “Inneggiamo, il Signor non è morte…”, “…until! la mala Pasqua!!!”, and the cinematographic “Intermezzo”.
Tickets can be purchased at the Coliseum ticket office, Ticketline and usual places. In the purchase of the two operatic productions ordered by the Coliseum for 2021 – “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Così fan tutte”, by Mozart, scheduled to premiere on September 4 -, there is a 25% discount.
