“Cavalleria Rusticana” from Verga to Mascagni
Wednesday, February 5th at 6pm
Italian Cultural Institute – 500 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1450
This presentation by Musicologist Jesse Rosenberg, Northwestern University, is held in conjunction with the three upcoming performances (February 6-8) of Mascagni’s masterpiece by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and an outstanding cast of soloists, conducted by Maestro Riccardo Muti.
Giovanni Verga’s short story “Cavalleria Rusticana” caused a sensation upon its publication in 1880, as did the author’s theatrical adaptation of the work in 1884. The story of the transformation of these sources into a a full-fledged opera by Pietro Mascagni offers fascinating insights into the world of late 19th-century melodramma.
Professor Jesse Rosenberg received his PhD from New York University, and has been on the musicology faculty of Northwestern University since 1998. Both as a scholar and teacher he specializes in 19th-century Italian opera, and has published his researches on Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, and Mascagni, as well as studies on opera and religion.
RSVP at https://cavalleriarusticana2020.eventbrite.com
Friends of the Institute are eligible to receive a 15% discount off the cost of tickets to the upcoming performances of “Cavalleria Rusticana” by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Please use promo code IIC when ordering tickets online at www.cso.org or at the box office.