We can thank Edoardo Sonzogno, a contemporary Milanese publisher who used his paper to advertise a yearly one-act opera contest, for these twin works, the two most popular pieces in the Italian one-act opera repertoire. With the agreement of librettists, Pietro Mascagni reworked the original two-act version of Cavalleria Rusticana – by including the eventually famous “Intermezzo” – to satisfy the contest’s requirements. In that same year, the jury did not consider Ruggero Leoncavallo’s opera Pagliacci, since it was two acts and thus disqualified. In 1890, Cavalleria Rusticana won the Sonzogno Company’s competition. However, Leoncavallo’s work caught the attention of the publisher. Two years later, on 21 May 1892, it was shown in Milan’s Teatro Dal Verme venue after a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana. Nowadays, opera houses traditionally stage these works together on account of their short duration and similar styles.
What connects these two pieces is the naturalistic style of depiction, where the conflicts of flesh-and-blood characters are portrayed as everyday stories. Today we could even call them opera thrillers. Now the Budapest audience may view them at Margaret Island Open-Air Stage directed by Georges Delnon and featuring the Hungarian State Opera House’s orchestra and chorus.
Featuring the Hungarian State Opera House Orchestra, Chorus and Children’s Chorus
A joint production of the Hungarian State Opera House and Open-Air Theatre.
