06.08.2012
Two operas in one evening
On 13 April the Mikhailovsky Theatre will present in one evening two popular Italian operas — Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo.
The operas were composed nearly at the same time and are regarded as the best examples of verismo, the style distinguished by realistic depictions of everyday life, especially the life of the contemporary lower classes. Every operas lasts for about one hour and the world theatres often unite them and present Cav&Pag in one evening.
Despite the fact that plot and characters are quite different (though in Cav&Pag there is a love triangle, jealousy, and a murder in the end), the operas have more common ground than differences: they are composed in the same music language. At the Mikhailovsky Theatre the operas are also brought together by the stage director — the legendary Liliana Cavani. The director of the renowned film The Night Porter largely used the cinema-style in the productions.
By the way, it was thanks to cinema that the music by Pietro Mascagni gained huge popularity: the main music theme of Cavalleria rusticana is used in the soundtrack of The Godfather. The famous aria ‘Ridi, pagliaccio’ is also one of the most recognizable pieces of music in the world.
The operas were composed nearly at the same time and are regarded as the best examples of verismo, the style distinguished by realistic depictions of everyday life, especially the life of the contemporary lower classes. Every operas lasts for about one hour and the world theatres often unite them and present Cav&Pag in one evening.
Despite the fact that plot and characters are quite different (though in Cav&Pag there is a love triangle, jealousy, and a murder in the end), the operas have more common ground than differences: they are composed in the same music language. At the Mikhailovsky Theatre the operas are also brought together by the stage director — the legendary Liliana Cavani. The director of the renowned film The Night Porter largely used the cinema-style in the productions.
By the way, it was thanks to cinema that the music by Pietro Mascagni gained huge popularity: the main music theme of Cavalleria rusticana is used in the soundtrack of The Godfather. The famous aria ‘Ridi, pagliaccio’ is also one of the most recognizable pieces of music in the world.
