Cavalleria Rusticana

The final performance of the 2007-2008 season! Friday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Glorious Singing – Glorious Reviews

"Anyone who has hitherto failed to 'get' Zajick should be invited – no, forced! – to hear this Cavalleria... [Zajick's] performance as Santuzza on Sunday was the best singing that I have ever heard not only in Washington but anywhere, in a long, long time." - Washington Post"It didn't hurt that Turridu [Salvatore Licitra], her no-account lover, was her vocal equal... his duet with Zajick was about as good as it's possible for opera to get. It demonstrated that Licitra should be the unrivaled star opera tenor of our day." - Washington Post"Freed from the trappings of stagecraft, costuming and occasionally quirky directors, concert opera puts the orchestra onstage and the soloists upfront and personal. ...this kind of performance offers the audience a unique opportunity to hear wonderful music and fabulous singing without interference..." - Washington Times"Bringing down the house Sunday was mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick as Santuzza. Salvatore Licitra was no slouch in the intensity business either, as he threw himself into the role of Turridu. Gordon Hawkins made a vocally powerful Alfio. Conductor Riccardo Frizza...provided plenty of fire." - Baltimore Sun


Act I: Orchestral Selections from Opera Masters

These famous pieces include the Overture to Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, Overture to Le Maschere by Pietro Mascagni, and Crisantemi for String Orchestra and Prelude and "La Tregenda" from Le Villi by Giacomo Puccini.

Act II: Cavalleria Rusticana

Set in a Sicilian village, this melodramatic tale of "rustic chivalry" follows the fickle and passionate love triangle between Turiddu, who loves Lola; Santuzza, who loves Turiddu, the father of her child; and Alfio, the all-too-trusting husband of Lola. Mascagni's music takes us through the emotional heights and depths of this tragic love story."Force of nature" mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick makes her company debut as she joins Italian tenor Salvatore Licitra (Andrea Chénier, Tosca), American baritone Gordon Hawkins (Porgy and Bess, Das Rheingold) and the Washington National Opera Orchestra and Chorus in a concert version of Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana.

Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana

Sung in Italian with English supertitlesPerformed in concert in the Kennedy Center Opera House
Friday, May 30, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

Dolora Zajick*, Santuzza; Salvatore Licitra, Turiddu;Gordon Hawkins, Alfio; Riccardo Frizza, Conductor*company debut