Mascagni's sensational success Cavalleria rusticana deals with the social customs of Sicily, to which Turridu falls victim.
He was denied a marriage to Lola, whom he loves, so he has fun with Santuzza, who loves him, and makes her a promise of marriage. But Lola is not happy in her marriage to Alfio, which is why she begins an affair with Turridu. Santuzza finds out about this and, hurt by this disgrace, hints to Alfio that Lola is being unfaithful. Alfio immediately suspects who the adulterer is and provokes Turridu into a duel. In Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, the theater troupe around Canio announces a comedy evening. But discord reigns within the group. Canio does not trust his young wife Nedda implicitly, which the scheming Tonio, who has his eye on her, knows how to exploit. He discovers that Nedda is actually cheating on him. While the troupe is now playing a comedy, the line between the role of the cuckolded Pagliaccio and the murderous Canio becomes blurred.
Premiere November 18, 2023
Further performances: November 23, 3, 7, 21 and 26 December 2023, January 9, 8, 12 and 17 February, 10 and 20 March, 9 and 18 April, 9, 15 and 30 May, 6 and 22 June and on July 5, 2024
