A traditional opera double bill from the Bavarian State Opera is on tap for this week’s “Sunday Opera” (9/28 3:00 p.m.) featuring tragic tales of domestic strife in Pietro Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.”
“Cavalleria Rusticana” tells the tale of Turiddu (Ivan Gyngazov), a soldier who returns from war to find his fiancée, Lola (Ekaterine Buachidze), married to the carter Alfio (Wolfgang Koch). To seek revenge and perhaps stir jealousy, Turiddu seduces Santuzza (Yulia Matochkina), a village girl who falls deeply in love with him. However, Lola, now married to Alfio, reignites her affair with Turiddu, causing a scandal and a confrontation with a heartbroken Santuzza. Santuzza reveals Lola's infidelity to Alfio, who challenges Turiddu to a duel, resulting in Turiddu's death on Easter morning. Rosalind Plowright is also featured as Mamma Lucia.
Art and life are parallel in “Pagliacci” about Canio (Jonas Kaufman), the jealous leader of a commedia dell'arte troupe, who tragically murders his unfaithful wife, Nedda (Allyn Perez), and her lover, Silvio (Thomas Mole), on stage during a performance of their play which is about the fickle Columbine and her flirtations with Harlequin (Beppe) (Andres Agudelo).Canio is provoked into action by the jealous Tonio (Wolfgang Koch) who is spurned by Nedda and is seeking revenge.
They’re joined by the Bavarian State Orchestra and the Bavarian State Opera Chorus and Children’s Chorus.Danielle Rustioni conducts.
We’ll change gears after the opera when Michael Kownacky will bring you a truly interesting requiem by Belgian composer Nicholas Lens.Flamma Flamma: The Fire Requiem features a mix of classical and ethnic music and is a “mixture of mythology, philosophy, and fantasy. This is the first piece in a trio of works that fall under the heading: “The Accacha Chronicles.”The requiem not only deals with the grief and pain of death, but it also looks at it as an inevitable part of life.
The six soloists include Claron McFadden, La Verne Williams, Gary Boyce, Zeger Vandersteene, Henk Lauwers, and Marcello Rosca.They’re joined by a trio of “natural voices: ”Nadka Karadjova, Anastassia Kostova, and Kera Damianova.”The piece also features the Flemish Radio Choir and Makiko Goto who plays the koto.Nicholas Lens is the conductor, and he’s leading the Gondwana Orchestra.
