Cavalleria Rusticana

Following the success of last year’s Il Trovatore, The Valley Lyrical presented Mascagni’s masterpiece, Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) on Friday, September 3rd at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville, and Saturday, September 4th at Hickory High School in Hermitage, in a concert version with orchestra and a simultaneous English translation. 

Jon Simsic conduced the Seraphim orchestra, chorus, and soloists.  Singing the role of Santuzza was soprano Dr. Misook Yun ,with the Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music, tenor Dr. Francisco Cano as Turiddu, baritone Allan Mosher as Alfio, mezzo-soprano Judith -Hugues as Mamma Lucia, and soprano Karen Emmett as Lola

A “verisimo” opera that is fiercely melodramatic, Cavalleria Rusticana is often paired with I Pagliacci during an evening as both operas deal with the themes of infidelity and revenge.

In addition to “Cavalleria” a couple of scenes from Verdi’s Rigoletto were also presented, featuring Allan Mosher as the jester and soprano Ann Bentz as his daugher, Gilda.