Mascagni - Cavalleria Rusticana / Verrett, Johannson, Orani, Vespasiani, Nova, Podic, Sienna Opera

Rating:
Summary: Dreary
Review: I love this short Victorian verismo opera, have had it with Pagliacci (both with Callas) for centuries. And I thought Verrett and Johannson were great. I think the music (which is tunefulish) is very dramatic and beautiful. However, I thought this performance of it was very bad, and the one act opera wasn't even paired with Pagliacci, which I think is customary. After the revelation to Alfio (and also including Santuzza's desperate pleading with Turiddu, which came before that), the music picked up force and the show pulled itself together. Before this, however, it was dismal and drab. Lucia was at pains to find something to do with herself. The chorus was ineffectual and weak musicwise, and seemed just to wander vaguely in the background, some people smiling sometimes, some seeming to talk, and generally being a drag on the whole affair. Typical of 19th Century Italian opera, this was chock full of Christianity, but for a change, it was pivotal to the plot, almost. Santuzza believed she was "damned" because she was abandoned by her lover to whom she was not married. I was very disappointed, but will no doubt watch it again. Even the orchestra seemed to perk up about half or 2/3 of the way through. Incidentally, Verrett introduced the thing by telling the plot. I didn't know anymore about it when she was done than I did before she started, including the ending. For brighter souls than I who may not be familiar with this opera, I suggest skipping this track so as not to spoil the story.