Next Performance - Gianni Schicchi and Cavalleria Rusticana

Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy - Thursday 11th to Saturday 13th November

Thursday and Friday performances at 7.15 p.m, Saturday at 2.15 p.m

Gianni Schicchi

Puccini’s only comic opera and a little masterpiece including the famous “O mio babbino caro” (“O my beloved father”).

The relatives of Buoso Donati are in mourning at his beside but their sorrow has more to do with the rumours that he has left his money to monks. A frantic search of the room reveals that their worst fears have been realised. In a desperate attempt to salvage the situation they reluctantly call on the services of the skilful, but lower class, Gianni Schicchi. Schicchi quickly sizes up the situation and, realising that they are in it only for themselves, refuses to help, but his daughter, Lauretta, pleads with him (“O mio babbino caro”) since her hopes of marrying will be dashed unless she has a dowry. Unable to refuse his own daughter Schicchi comes up with a cunning plan in which he will impersonate Donati sufficiently long for a lawyer to be called and a new will drawn up. The relatives all make their own case to Schicchi but eventually agree that the distribution of the 3 most prized possessions (mule, villa and sawmills) must be decided by Schicchi himself. The lawyer comes and hears the testament of "Donati". Safe in the knowledge that the mourners are now as deeply embroiled as he, Schicchi awards himself the 3 most prized possessions and ensures that Lauretta can marry Rinuccio.

In a final spoken section Schicchi, who appears as a sinful character in Dante’s Inferno, asks the audience if, with due deference to Dante, they will forgive him his mischievous deed - for after all what can be more rewarding than seeing two young people in love being able to realise their dream?

Cavalleria Rusticana

Two of opera’s most famous melodies appear in this village tale of Sicilian love and revenge – The Easter Hymn and orchestral Intermezzo. Yet it is Mascagni’s only successful opera.

Santuzza is desperately unhappy as she knows that the man she loves, Turiddu, has been seeing Lola, wife of the milk-seller Alfio. Turidu had made love to Santuzza but then betrayed her and so she is an excommunicated outcast, yet still she loves him.

Turiddu’s mother Mama Lucia tells first Santuzza then later Alfio that her son has gone to a nearby village to fetch some wine. Santuzza’s suspicions that this is not true are realised when Alfio, unknowing of its significance, says that he saw Turiddu near his cottage that very morning.
A hymn from inside the church springs up which the people in the square join in, followed by Santuzza.

Left alone Mama Lucia now asks Santuzza why she stopped her from quizzing Alfio further about Turiddu. Santuzza reveals that she has been betrayed and seeing Mama Lucia’s pity for her begs her to go into the church and pray for her.

Lola reveals herself to be a heartless creature then she too enters the church and, despite Santuzza’s entreaties, Turiddu , having thrown off Santuzza, follows Lola into the church. Alfio now arrives looking for Lola and a distraught Santuzza tells him that his wife has been unfaithful with Turiddu.

The orchestral Intermezzo heightens the tension and Turiddu’s high spirits (another operatic drinking song!) are shattered when Alfio refuses his offer of a drink then challenges Turiddu to a duel in which their can only be one outcome - for the betrayer is no match with the sword for Alfio.

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