1. This Presentation provided by members of the Bellini Opera Theatre of Michigan Dino Valle, Artistic Director, Giuliano Zuccato, Sculptor of the Bellini Statue Kathy Valle, Technical Specialist

2. Naples Library, Naples, FL In cooperation with South West Florida Italian Opera Society And Bellini Opera Theatre

3. Presents C avalleria Rusticana Pietro Mascagni (1863 -1945) was born in Italian seaport of Livorno), the son of a baker. His father intended him to become a lawyer and bitterly opposed his musical studies Mascagni Mascagni Leoncavallo

4. Presents C ast of Characters for Cavalleria Rusticana Santuzza, a peasant girl Soprano Lucia, mother of Turiddu Contralto Alfio, a Village teamster Baritone Turiddu, a soldier, son of Lucia Tenor Lola, wife of Alfio Mezzo-soprano Villages and Peasants: Place: A Sicilian village Time: Nineteenth Century Mascagni Leoncavallo

5. C avalleria Rusticana The Story The action takes place on Easter Day in a Sicilian Village. Turiddu is heard off stage singing a serenade to Lola, the pretty wife of the prosperous carter, Alfio. “ O Lola my beloved, fair as a flower, how I adore your smile, brighter than sunlight. Lips that are scarlet red, glowing with passion, bring me the pleasure of heaven. If I could know my fate, O my beloved, know that my soul was doomed to suffer for ever; yet I would seek your love though it destroy me, suffer the pain and sorrow if you were near me. Mascagni- O LoLa Ch’ai Di Latti La Cammisa– Dino Valle

6. Mascagni-Voi Lo Sapete O’ Mamma-Cavalleria Rusticana— Ellie C avalleria Rusticana The Story Easter Sunday, the villagers, in holiday attire, singing the hymn of the spring proceed to the Church. After they leave Santuzza enters in great agitation and approaches the tavern of Mamma Lucia. She is looking for her lover, Turiddu, Lucia’s son. “don’t you remember, mamma, when Turiddu became a soldier. Turiddu loved only Lola and Lola thought they would soon be married and hoped to find great happiness forever. Now Turiddu has returned and finds Lola married to Alfio. In his distress, Turiddu turned to me and tried to forget his passion for Lola and loved me and I loved him. Lola envied me and the joy I found in Turiddu and became faithless to Alfio. Now I am alone abandoned and dishonered.

7. C avalleria Rusticana When Alfio comes to the square, he asked Santuzza,”are we still on time for Mass” and she answered, “no, it is too late, but thank God you came because I want to talk to you. Lola is in Church with Turiddu, she is cheating on you” Alfio said, “ thank you for letting me know, I will avenge my name.” People are coming out of church. Turiddu invites everyone for a drink, including Alfio and Alfio said, “no thank you, your win e is poison to me” Turiddu answered, “ now what”. In Sicilian style, Turiddo embraces Alfio and bites his left ear, which is an invitation to a duel. The opera closes with a woman screaming that Turiddu is dead. Mascagni—Ah, il signore vi M anda-Cavall eria Rusticana Ellie and Dino

8. Pagliacci Ruggiero Leoncavalo (1858-1919) born in Naples, the son of a magistrate- He received his training at the conservatory of his native city. The struggling young composer gave piano and voice lessons to keep from starving.

9. Cast of Characters for Pagliacci Canio, a head of a troupe of strolling players (Pagliaccio in the play)Tenor Nedda, his wife (Columbine in the play)Soprano Tonio, a member of the troupe (Taddeo in the play)Baritone Peppe, a member of the troupe (Harlequin in the play)Tenor Silvio, a villagerBaritone Peasants and Villagers: Place: A village in Calabria, Italy Time: In the 1860’s

10. Pagliacci The Story The action takes place in a village in Calabria during the Feast of the Assumption. In the prologue, Tonio appears before the curtain to explain to the audience that the play they are about t o see is no fantasy but is, as he says, “a picture of life,” presenting the emotions and passions of real men and women. My friends, allow me to speak the Prologo, the author Has tried to follow the ancient poets by recreating the Classic drama. The tears that they shed are not real, they Are acting. The suffering need not move our hearts, As they are make believe. He is trying to paint a picture Of life by creating a nest of memory. Leoncavallo– Prologo– Pagliacci Dino, as Tonio

11. Pagliacci The story Nedda, wife of Canio is having an affair with Silvio. Silvio implores her to run away him by saying, “why did you charm me with your beauty only to leave me weeping so soon, why did you grant me moments of rapture, love, and supreme delight? Can you forget those hours together and all the joys we shared”. She answers, “can I forget, oh no, my beloved. When I remember my heart is enchanted. Leoncavallo—E’Allor Perche—Pagliacci Ellie and Dino

12. Pagliacci Canio catches Nedda and Silvio together and it is time now o perform and he must go on. He says, “to perform when my head is whirling with anguish, not knowing what I am saying or what I am doing. Yet, I must force myself to play the clown. Are you a man or a clown. Put on your coat and powder on your face, you must amuse your public, though Columbine and Harlequin betray you. Laugh now, clown laugh. Leoncavallo—Vesti la Giubba– Pagliacci Dino

13. This Presentation provided by members of the Bellini Opera Theatre of Michigan Dino Valle, Artistic Director, Giuliano Zuccato, Sculptor of the Bellini Statue Kathy Valle, Technical Assistance