Cast & Characters

The Cast

Santuzza: Dolora Zajick
Turiddu: Salvatore Licitra
Alfio: Mark Delavan
Nedda: Krassimira Stoyanova
Canio: Salvatore Licitra
Tonio: Lado Ataneli
Conductor: Marco Armiliato

The Characters

Cavalleria Rusticana

Turiddu /too-ree-doo/ -- (tenor) a young, ex-officer of the army who is rather fickle with women. Formerly in love with Lola, he wooed Santuzza. He has gone back to Lola, even though she is married, and Santuzza is pregnant.

Santuzza /sahn-toot'-sah/ -- (soprano) a woman in love with Turiddu, by whom she has become pregnant. Because of this she has been excommunicated by the Church and is shunned.

Alfio /ahl'-fee-o/ -- (baritone) the town carter and husband of Lola. While jealous by nature, he trusts in his wife's faithfulness.

Mama Lucia /mah-mah loo-chee'-ah/ -- (contralto) mother of Turiddu, she runs a small inn.

Lola /low-la/ -- (mezzo-soprano) the flirtatious wife of Alfio, with whom Turiddu is in love.

Pagliacci

Canio /kah'-nee-oh/ -- (tenor) the short-tempered, middle-aged leader of the actors. In the troupe's play he acts the role of Pagliaccio, the clown and betrayed husband.

Nedda /neh'-dah/ -- (soprano) Canio's young wife, who plays Pagliaccio's wife Columbina in the troupe's play. She has grown tired of Canio and their life of constant travel. She has fallen in love with Silvio, a young man from the village.

Tonio /to'-nee-oh/ -- (baritone) a bitter and angry hunchback who is tormented by his passion for Nedda. He acts the part of Taddeo, a servant, in the troupe's play.

Beppe /beh'-pay/ -- (tenor) an actor who plays the comic romantic part of Columbina's lover Arlecchino in the play.

Silvio /seel'-vee-o/ -- (baritone) a villager and Nedda's lover.