Intermezzo from "Cavalleria Rusticana"

Score Cover

Pietro Mascagni (transcribed by Joseph Kreines)

General Info

Year: 1890 / 1997
Duration: c. 3:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Aeolus Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $70.00   |   Score Only - $25.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
Clarinet I-II-III
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bb Contrabass Clarinet
Alto Sax I-II
Tenor Sax
Baritone Sax
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II-III
French Horn I-II
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Harp (or Piano)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Cavalleria Rusticana (“Rustic Chivalry”) is an opera in one act by Italian composer Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945). It was premiered on 17 May, 1890 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, Italy. The libretto, written by Giovanni-Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, was based on the short story of the same title by novelist Giovanni Verga. Mascagni submitted Cavalleria Rusticana as an entry in a contest for the best unpublished one-act opera, sponsored by the music publisher Casa Sonzogno. It won first prize, and it was considered a great success at its first performance; however, none of Mascagni’s 14 subsequent operas met with great success. Due to its brevity, Cavalleria Rusticana is often paired with another one-act opera, most often Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci.

In the opera, two sweethearts, Lola and Turiddu, are separated by Turiddu’s military service. In his absence, Lola marries a local man (Alfio). When Turiddu returns he is angry and begins an affair with a local girl to arouse Lola’s jealousies. Despite their relationships to others, Lola and Turiddu resume their love. When Alfio discovers this, he challenges Turiddu to a duel, and Turiddu is killed. The Intermezzo is the best-known melody from the opera.

Program Note by Nikk Pilato.

Commercial Discography

None discovered thus far.

State Ratings

• Florida: IV

Recent Performances

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Additional Works for Winds by this Composer

This composer primarily wrote operatic music. Other transcriptions of his works include:

• Intermezzo from "L'Amico Fritz" (tr. Leonard Falcone)

Additional Resources

None discovered thus far.