DESTINIES DIVERGE

Opera Orlando concludes its 2024-25 Destiny + Desire Mainstage series with a unique double bill of Berlioz’s Beatrice + Benedict and Mascagni’s verismo masterpiece Cavalleria Rusticana. Watch this all-new opera mash-up, conceived by Company artistic director Grant Preisser, unfold simultaneously on an Easter day in the Sicilian town of Messina.

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA CAST

OPERAINSIGHTS

Enjoy lunch and meet the cast and creative team of Beatrice + Benedict / Cavalliera Rusticana and get behind-the-scenes insights into the rehearsal and creative process. 

Thursday | April 10 at 12 p.m.
Winter Park Racquet Club

$75 per person
RSVP HERE

SYNOPSIS

Messina | 1860

BEATRICE + BENEDICT

Don Pedro’s militia returns to Messina having captured the notorious Bosco in the Battle of Milazzo. They are greeted by Leonato, the governor of Messina, his daughter Hero, and her cousin Beatrice. Hero loves Claudio, one of Don Pedro’s soldiers, but Beatrice disdains all men, especially Claudio’s misogynistic best friend, and another one of Don Pedro’s soldiers — Benedict. Hero is overjoyed by Claudio’s return, while Beatrice and Benedict resume their ‘merry war of words.’

Claudio and Hero are engaged to be married, and Claudio pushes Benedict to marry as well. Benedict retorts that he’d rather die. Leonato, Don Pedro and Claudio conspire to make Benedict fall in love. They arrange a conversation between them which Benedict eavesdrops on, discussing how sad it is that Beatrice, in fact, loves Benedict. Amazed by what he overhears, Benedict vows he will return Beatrice’s love. Meanwhile, Hero and lady in wiating Ursula play the same trick on Beatrice. 

Beatrice and Benedict’s professions of love turns to an argument about their feelings and their future for all to hear in the town square. Claudio and Hero interrupt them though, to reveal love poems that Beatrice and Benedict have written about each other. Finally, setting their egos aside, they both admit their love and agree to an engagement and a truce — at least until tomorrow. 

– INTERMISSION – 

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

As day dawns and the town square comes to life, Turiddu sings in the distance of his love for Lola, who is married to Alfio, the town carter. She and Turiddu had been a couple before he joined the army. When he returns and finds her married to Alfio, he seduces Santuzza but abandons her and rekindles his relationship with Lola. Later in the morning, a distraught Santuzza approaches the tavern of Mamma Lucia, Turiddu’s mother, who tells her that her son is away buying wine. But Santuzza knows that Turiddu has been seen during the night in the village. Alfio arrives with a group of men, boasting of his horses and Lola. He asks Mamma Lucia if she has any more of her good wine. When she says that Turiddu has gone to get more, Alfio replies that he saw him near his house that morning. Lucia is surprised, but Santuzza tells her to keep quiet. As the villagers follow the procession to the church, Santuzza stays behind and pours out her grief about Turiddu to Mamma Lucia. The old woman expresses her pity and then leaves for Mass. Turiddu arrives in the piazza. When Santuzza confronts him about his affair with Lola, he denies her accusations. Just then, Lola passes by on her way to church. She mocks Santuzza, and Turiddu turns to follow her. Santuzza begs him to stay and implores him not to abandon her. Refusing to listen, Turiddu leaves, and Santuzza curses him. Alfio appears late for Mass. Santuzza tells him that Lola went to church with Turiddu and reveals that she has been cheating on him. In a rage, Alfio swears to get even and rushes off, leaving behind the now conscience-stricken Santuzza.

Returning from the church, the villagers gather at Mamma Lucia’s tavern. Turiddu leads them in a drinking song, but the atmosphere becomes tense when Alfio appears. He refuses Turiddu’s offer of wine and instead challenges him to a duel. Turiddu admits his guilt but is determined to go through with the fight for Santuzza’s sake and his honor. The two men agree to meet outside the village. Alone with his mother, Turiddu begs her to take care of Santuzza if he doesn’t return, then runs off to the fight. As Mamma Lucia waits anxiously, shouts are heard in the distance. A woman runs in, screaming that Turiddu has been killed.