Puccini’s only comedy Gianni Schicchi tells the story of the likeable rogue, Gianni Schicchi, who is commissioned by the greedy relatives of a recently deceased aristocrat to ensure that they inherit his property – but the impoverished Schicchi has other plans!
Schicchi’s daughter, who is in love with one of the relatives, sings the famous soprano aria ‘O mio babbino caro’ (‘Oh my beloved father’).
In Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, Turiddu returns from army service to find his beloved Lola had married Alfio, a wealthy carter. So Turiddu turns to Santuzza, but after seducing her, soon tires of her and secretly resumes his affair with Lola. Santuzza’s vengeful despair at her betrayal leads to tragic consequences. This much-loved opera contains the beautiful ’Intermezzo’ for orchestra and the stirring ‘Easter Hymn’.
Non-professional production by Southgate Opera