Lanzhou China Network, June 14 – On June 13, the concert version of the classic opera Cavalleria Rusticana, jointly created by the China Conservatory of Music, Lanzhou Grand Theatre, the Lanzhou Symphony Orchestra and the Lanzhou Concert Hall Choir, was staged brilliantly at the Lanzhou Concert Hall, presenting the audience with a unique feast of Italian verismo opera.
Cavalleria Rusticana is the magnum opus of Italian composer Pietro Mascagni, and it also stands as the pinnacle work of the Italian verismo opera school. The entire opera features a dramatic plot and intense emotions. The iconic intermezzo of the opera is inserted at pivotal moments between the dramatic climax and the tragic ending, brimming with profound humanistic philosophies. Boasting timeless and melodious tunes, it has earned worldwide renown, ranking among the most famous opera intermezzi globally, and is the most anticipated classic excerpt of this performance.
The entire performance was fully attended with perfect order. The audience sat quietly, absorbed in the music without any chatter, completely immersed in the artistic realm woven by classical melodies. After every classic aria came to an end, sustained warm applause erupted from the venue, and many audience members sat lost in thought, quietly savouring the lingering charm of the music.
To perfectly recreate this timeless masterpiece, this performance brings together a lineup of accomplished vocal artists, including Xue Haoyin, Kou Jing, Zang Yuange, Zhu Siying, Zhu Yixiao, An Qi, Cai Tiantian, Zhang Zining, Ma Bijiao and Zhang Jin, who take the stage together. With superb vocal skills and delicate onstage interpretations, complemented by the grand instrumental performance of a symphony orchestra and the harmonic backing of a choir, they unfold the tangled love and hatred and the full spectrum of human nature in 19th-century rural Italy before the audience’s eyes. The seamless collaboration of the professional team breaks the classic opera free from the confines of traditional stage formats. Presented in a brand-new concert style, it bridges the gap between elegant art and local audiences in Lanzhou. (Miao Yuting)