Cavalleria Rusticana alongside Pagliacci: Two Gems of Italian Opera in One Evening

The Vienna-Tel Aviv Vocal Connection is one of the most important opera institutions in Israel. It is the only one that transports full, high-level international opera productions throughout the country for opera lovers wherever they may be. Indeed, the applause of the audiences filling the halls attests to the sweeping success of this important cultural enterprise. The pure enjoyment and warmth with which the operas "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Die Fledermaus" were received give those involved in this art the strength and energy to provide this wonderful audience with more and more high-quality opera performances.

In this production, two short operas will be presented: "Pagliacci" (I Pagliacci) by Ruggiero Leoncavallo and "Cavalleria Rusticana" by Pietro Mascagni. Both operas are among the most beloved gems of Italian opera for opera enthusiasts. It is customary for this pair of operas to be performed in a single evening, with each lasting about an hour and divided into two parts by an instrumental intermezzo.

The Creators: Musical Director: David Aronson, Conductor: Peter Valentovic, Director: Rosemary Danziger, Chorus Master: Assaf Benraf.

A Genre Called "Verismo":

Both operas belong to the genre known as "Verismo," characterized by sharp realism and presenting human emotions in the deepest way through total musical and dramatic means. Casting Verismo operas requires singers with large, robust dramatic voices capable of conveying the emotions erupting from the depths of the soul. For the Vienna-Tel Aviv Vocal Connection production, international singers who have performed these demanding roles in major opera houses around the world were selected for the lead roles. Maestro David Aronson from the Vienna State Opera, conductor Peter Valentovic, who has conducted these two operas in major opera houses across Europe, and international director Rosemary Danziger will lead the soloists, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and the three choirs into the eye of the storm of these masterpieces.

"Verismo" as a literary and operatic genre—brutal realism—appeals to the viewer's exposed nerves, placing the storm of human emotions directly before them without adornment. The viewer is shaken along with the tragic hero, understanding him but also horrified by this understanding. Love and passion sweep the heroes away and lead them down uncontrollable paths. The events in both operas take place within a realistic world, within society, and its established customs; such as the religious ceremony, the Easter procession in Cavalleria Rusticana, and a church wedding ceremony (in the current version). The world goes on as usual, and within it, interpersonal dramas unfold and spill into the public space.

Split Choirs: In both operas, the public/communal space is expressed through the extensive use of split choirs, representing different groups in society, whether they are men and women returning from work in the fields, community members watching the Easter procession, or worshippers in the church. In this production, the four combined choirs are in the capable hands of Maestro Assaf Benraf, who has managed opera choirs around the world and at the Israeli Opera. The rich orchestration emphasizes the sharpness of the plot while simultaneously enveloping it in an aesthetic shell. This contrast contributes to the encounter between the emotional storm and the surrounding reality.

Since ancient times, philosophers have discussed the concept of catharsis that occurs in both the viewer and the performer when watching a tragedy or performing a tragic role. Aristotle, in "Poetics," speaks of the fear and pity that arise in the viewer and the tragic performer. This is a sort of processing of the evil inherent in the human race and its transformation into compassion, while drawing ethical and moral conclusions. Catharsis is the purification of the soul.

The Opera "Pagliacci": By Ruggiero Leoncavallo, who also wrote the libretto, based on a real-life case heard in court where the judge was the composer's father. The opera tells the story of a traveling theater troupe in the villages of Calabria, performing traditional Commedia dell'arte. Nedda, the wife of the clown Canio, cheats on him with a lover she encountered in the village, while rejecting the advances of troupe member Tonio. The evening's performance turns into a performance of real life. Canio, in his jealousy, murders his wife and her lover, who is hiding among the audience, in front of everyone.

The Opera "Cavalleria Rusticana": Libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci based on the novella of the same name by Giovanni Verga, telling a tragic story set in a Sicilian village. Turiddu returns to his village after military service and discovers that his fiancée Lola has married Alfio, the village's wealthiest man. In his despair, he promises marriage to a local commoner, Santuzza. However, he cannot resist temptation and returns to the arms of the married Lola. Santuzza, following the tryst between Lola and Turiddu, tells Alfio about the affair between her fiancé and his wife. Alfio challenges Turiddu to a duel that ends in Turiddu's death.

The Singers:

Santuzza/Nedda: Eugenia Dushina (Soprano): (Teatro Real, Madrid; Royal Opera La Monnaie, Brussels; Vilnius City Opera; Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris; Solothurn Opera, Switzerland; Mörbisch International Operetta Festival)

Turiddu/Canio: Zurab Zurabishvili (Tenor): Deutsche Oper Berlin; Essen Opera House; Düsseldorf Opera House; Flemish Opera, Antwerp; Royal Danish Opera, Copenhagen; Zurich Opera House; Israeli Opera.

Alfio/Tonio: Pedro Carrillo Perera (Baritone): Teresa Carreño Opera House, Caracas, Venezuela; Odessa National Opera; Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, Italy; National Opera of Moldova; Teatro Politeama Greco, Lecce, Italy.

Mamma Lucia: Rona Shrira (Alto): Israeli Opera.

Lola: Abigail Gourtler Har-Tov (Soprano): Israeli Opera.

Silvio: Oleg Lebedyev (Baritone): Semperoper Dresden; Düsseldorf Opera House; Cologne Opera House; Essen Opera House; Reina Sofía Palace of the Arts in Valencia, Spain; Glyndebourne Festival, UK.

Arlecchino: Doron Florentin (Tenor): Israeli Opera

The Choirs:

A-Cappella Jerusalem Vocal Ensemble; Musical Director: Assaf Benraf

Jerusalem Chamber Choir; Musical Director: Tam Karni

Shahar Choir Rehovot; Musical Director: Gila Brill

Performance Times:

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026, at 19:30: Sherover Theater, Jerusalem

Saturday evening, Oct 24, 2026, at 20:30: Petah Tikva Cultural Center

Monday, Oct 26, 2026, at 19:30: Kiryat Motzkin Theater Hall

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2026, at 19:30: Nitzan Cultural Center, Rishon LeZion

Locations: Jerusalem, Petah Tikva, Kiryat Motzkin, and Rishon LeZion

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