Оpera
Cavalleria Rusticana November 26, 2026, 19:00
Description
“Cavalleria Rusticana” is a one-act opera by Pietro Mascagni, filled with passion, dramatic intensity, and an inescapable sense of impending tragedy. Set in a picturesque Sicilian village against the joyful backdrop of Easter celebrations, the opera unfolds a story of love, infidelity, and jealousy, where wounded honour demands a cruel reckoning. The characters’ destinies become entwined in a fierce conflict of emotions, while Mascagni’s music reveals the depths of human suffering with poignant sincerity. A tragic tale in which a single moment of despair can change several lives forever.
Pietro Mascagni
Cavalleria Rusticana
Opera in one act
Libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci
Production Team
Production Conductor – Askar Buribaev, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Stage Director – Lorenzo Mariani (Italy)
Assistant Director – Laylim Imangazina, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Costume Designer – William Orlandi (Italy)
Lighting Designer – Roberto Venturi (Italy)
Choreographer – Luciano Cannito (Italy)
Chief Choirmaster – Aliya Temirbekova, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Assistant Directors – Natalia Stankovich, Shahan Gurkhan
Children’s Choir “Konyrau” of the “Prestige” School
Choirmaster – Svetlana Polityaeva
Cast
- Santuzza, a peasant girl
- Turiddu, a young villager recently returned from the army
- Lucia, his mother
- Alfio, a carter
- Lola, his wife
Synopsis
Based on the production by Arnaud Bernard.
The Sicilian Quarter in New York, 1920s. Easter Sunday.
Early morning. After spending the night with Lola, his former lover who is now married to another man, Turiddu sings her a farewell serenade. They part, taking care not to attract the attention of passers-by.
As the day unfolds, residents gather at the church for the festive Easter Mass. Santuzza, Turiddu’s fiancée, appears, tormented by suspicions of his infidelity. She asks Lucia, Turiddu’s mother, where her son is. Lucia replies that he went to a neighbouring district the previous day to fetch wine.
Their conversation is interrupted by the noisy arrival of the cheerful Alfio, Lola’s husband, who has just returned from a journey and eagerly recounts his business affairs. When Alfio mentions having recently seen Turiddu near his home, Santuzza’s suspicions are confirmed.
After Alfio leaves, Santuzza confides her fears to Lucia. Turiddu had once been deeply in love with Lola and intended to marry her, but he was called away to military service. Upon his return, he discovered that Lola had married Alfio. Heartbroken, he eventually found comfort in Santuzza and became engaged to her. However, when Lola learned of their relationship, she resolved to win Turiddu back.
Distressed by this revelation, Lucia goes to church, while Santuzza remains behind to await her beloved, determined to make him confess the truth.
Turiddu arrives. Santuzza confronts him with jealous questions, but he denies everything, evades her accusations and lies. At the height of their confrontation, Lola appears, singing a song and addressing Turiddu with playful irony. The two women exchange bitter remarks.
After Lola leaves, Santuzza makes one final attempt to reason with her fiancé. But Turiddu loses his temper, pushes her away and rushes after the flirtatious Lola.
Rejected and desperate, Santuzza resolves to take revenge. Fate brings Alfio into her path, and she reveals his wife’s infidelity. His cheerful disposition instantly gives way to terrifying rage.
Meanwhile, the Easter Mass has ended. The parishioners gather to celebrate, drinking wine and singing joyfully.
When Alfio joins the festivities, Turiddu offers him a drink, but Alfio rudely refuses. Sensing the approaching conflict, the women withdraw.
The two rivals understand that a duel is inevitable. Following Sicilian custom, they embrace, and Turiddu bites Alfio’s ear – a traditional challenge to a fight.
Before the confrontation, Turiddu goes to bid farewell to his mother. He asks for her blessing and begs her, should misfortune befall him, not to abandon poor Santuzza.
Lucia is deeply disturbed by her son’s strange behaviour and is overcome by a terrible sense of foreboding.
Meanwhile, Alfio and his associates confront Turiddu and take their revenge. Suddenly, a cry rings out announcing that Turiddu has been killed.
Everyone rushes towards the commotion. Santuzza pushes Lola towards the bloodstained body of her beloved.
“Cavalleria Rusticana” is a one-act opera by Pietro Mascagni, filled with passion, dramatic intensity, and an inescapable sense of impending tragedy. Set in a picturesque Sicilian village against the joyful backdrop of Easter celebrations, the opera unfolds a story of love, infidelity, and jealousy, where wounded honour demands a cruel reckoning. The characters’ destinies become entwined in a fierce conflict of emotions, while Mascagni’s music reveals the depths of human suffering with poignant sincerity. A tragic tale in which a single moment of despair can change several lives forever.
Pietro Mascagni
Cavalleria Rusticana
Opera in one act
Libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci
Production Team
Production Conductor – Askar Buribaev, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Stage Director – Lorenzo Mariani (Italy)
Assistant Director – Laylim Imangazina, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Costume Designer – William Orlandi (Italy)
Lighting Designer – Roberto Venturi (Italy)
Choreographer – Luciano Cannito (Italy)
Chief Choirmaster – Aliya Temirbekova, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Assistant Directors – Natalia Stankovich, Shahan Gurkhan
Children’s Choir “Konyrau” of the “Prestige” School
Choirmaster – Svetlana Polityaeva
Cast
- Santuzza, a peasant girl
- Turiddu, a young villager recently returned from the army
- Lucia, his mother
- Alfio, a carter
- Lola, his wife
Synopsis
Based on the production by Arnaud Bernard.
The Sicilian Quarter in New York, 1920s. Easter Sunday.
Early morning. After spending the night with Lola, his former lover who is now married to another man, Turiddu sings her a farewell serenade. They part, taking care not to attract the attention of passers-by.
As the day unfolds, residents gather at the church for the festive Easter Mass. Santuzza, Turiddu’s fiancée, appears, tormented by suspicions of his infidelity. She asks Lucia, Turiddu’s mother, where her son is. Lucia replies that he went to a neighbouring district the previous day to fetch wine.
Their conversation is interrupted by the noisy arrival of the cheerful Alfio, Lola’s husband, who has just returned from a journey and eagerly recounts his business affairs. When Alfio mentions having recently seen Turiddu near his home, Santuzza’s suspicions are confirmed.
After Alfio leaves, Santuzza confides her fears to Lucia. Turiddu had once been deeply in love with Lola and intended to marry her, but he was called away to military service. Upon his return, he discovered that Lola had married Alfio. Heartbroken, he eventually found comfort in Santuzza and became engaged to her. However, when Lola learned of their relationship, she resolved to win Turiddu back.
Distressed by this revelation, Lucia goes to church, while Santuzza remains behind to await her beloved, determined to make him confess the truth.
Turiddu arrives. Santuzza confronts him with jealous questions, but he denies everything, evades her accusations and lies. At the height of their confrontation, Lola appears, singing a song and addressing Turiddu with playful irony. The two women exchange bitter remarks.
After Lola leaves, Santuzza makes one final attempt to reason with her fiancé. But Turiddu loses his temper, pushes her away and rushes after the flirtatious Lola.
Rejected and desperate, Santuzza resolves to take revenge. Fate brings Alfio into her path, and she reveals his wife’s infidelity. His cheerful disposition instantly gives way to terrifying rage.
Meanwhile, the Easter Mass has ended. The parishioners gather to celebrate, drinking wine and singing joyfully.
When Alfio joins the festivities, Turiddu offers him a drink, but Alfio rudely refuses. Sensing the approaching conflict, the women withdraw.
The two rivals understand that a duel is inevitable. Following Sicilian custom, they embrace, and Turiddu bites Alfio’s ear – a traditional challenge to a fight.
Before the confrontation, Turiddu goes to bid farewell to his mother. He asks for her blessing and begs her, should misfortune befall him, not to abandon poor Santuzza.
Lucia is deeply disturbed by her son’s strange behaviour and is overcome by a terrible sense of foreboding.
Meanwhile, Alfio and his associates confront Turiddu and take their revenge. Suddenly, a cry rings out announcing that Turiddu has been killed.
Everyone rushes towards the commotion. Santuzza pushes Lola towards the bloodstained body of her beloved.
Cast and Performers
(November 26, 2026, 19:00)
- Santuzza Gulzat Dauirbayeva, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Turiddu Khalid Nuraliyev
- Alfio Aleksandr Smetanin, first performance
- Lola Amina Rakhimzhanova, first performance
- Lucia Yelena Nikonova
-
Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet of the Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Abay
- Conductor – Kuanysh Ismailov