Mascagni / Voulgaridou / Pagliai - Cavalleria Rusticana [CD]

Mascagni's first and most successful work has become an opera classic as it features elements of the Greek tragedy, mixing up religious and archaic elements. It's a story of love, passion, jealousy and restored honor in bloodshed. Directors Di Gangi and Giacomazzi set this traditional Cavalleria in a Sicilian village of the 1940s where the buildings are rather bare and the piazza is the stage for private as well as public drama. Conductor Valerio Galli is at the head of the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, one of the best in Italy. Good performance reviews for the whole cast. "The star of the show is Angelo Villari, who plays an impeccable Turiddu. Thanks to his warm and fiery voice, the Italian tenor adds credibility to a complex character, torn between passion and sensitivity... Soprano Alexia Voulgaridou portrays a perfect, melancholic Santuzza. She possesses an excellent vocal instrument and her voice is lyrical, dramatic and emotionally engaging... Marina Ogii is a Lola imbued with charm and sensuality, with a warm and cleverly projected voice... Elena Zilio is a well-centered and engaging Mamma Lucia, with a magnetic stage presence and an incredible expressive talent... Lorenzo Fratini is at the head of the chorus which provides excellent and powerful contributions to the performance. " (connessiallopera. It)