The Royal Opera perform Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci in Damiano Michieletto's award-winning double production, broadcast online as part of the Royal Opera House's #OurHouseToYourHouse series.
Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci (The Players) are today Italian opera’s most famous double act, but they were written independently. Cavalleria rusticana came first, its hugely successful premiere in 1890 doubtless an influence on Leoncavallo. His Pagliacci in 1892 was another triumph. The two works, each undeniable masterpieces of the verismo tradition of realism, share dramatic concision, melodic richness and an obsession with violent jealousy.
Damiano Michieletto’s production was an Olivier-Award-winning hit when first presented in 2015. He sets both operas within the same village, allowing characters from one piece to reappear in the other and offering theatrical realism within visuals that are modern and yet timeless. The production was widely praised at its premiere, and summarized by the Financial Times as ‘a gripping evening all round’.
How to watch
This event will be streamed on our ROH streaming site, and you will need to log in or create an account to buy access. Your existing Royal Opera House account information will not be valid here.
Help
You can find out more about how to access this event here. If you are experiencing further problems with accessing this event, please visit the Help Centre.
Watch any time
Keep this performance forever by buying it on DVD or Blu-Ray today. Buy now.
ConductorAntonio Pappano
SantuzzaEva-Maria Westbroek
Turiddu / CanioAleksandrs Antonenko
Mamma LuciaElena Zilio
Alfio / TonioDimitri Platanias
LolaMartina Belli
NeddaCarmen Giannattasio
SilvioDionysios Sourbis
BeppeBenjamin Hulett
ChorusRoyal Opera Chorus
Concert MasterSergey Levitin
OrchestraOrchestra of the Royal Opera House
Music (Cavalleria rusticana)Pietro Mascagni
Music (Pagliacci)Ruggero Leoncavallo
Libretto (Cavalleria rusticana)Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci
Libretto (Pagliacci)Ruggero Leoncavallo
DirectorDamiano Michieletto
Revival directorEleonora Gravagnola
Set designerPaolo Fantin
Costume designerCarla Teti
Lighting designerAlessandro Carletti
Help us fully return to our stages and support our community of artists, freelancers, craftspeople and theatre workers.