Dazzling opera ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ at Maleny Community Centre this June

Santuzza (Vanessa West) pleads with Turiddu (Colin Dunn).

Almost all music lovers know the famous “Intermezzo” in Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”.

This June 10, 11, 17, & 18 Hinterland music lovers will be able to hear the whole dazzling, short opera at the Maleny Community Centre.  

Set in Sicily, the action centres around local ex-soldier, Turiddu (tenor Colin Dunn) who is secretly romancing the vivacious Lola (mezzo-soprano Viera Keogh). 

She is the wife, however, of  big-shot businessman (read mafioso?) Alfio (baritone Ian Rix). Into this hazardous mix throw jilted girlfriend Santuzza (guest soprano Vanessa West) and hear the emotions and the music explode.  

Other well-known pieces are the heart-rending “Easter Hymn”,  where the chorus’ joyful rejoicing is counterpoised by the audience’s realization that Santuzza has been rejected by her community. And the fiery, soaring duet where Turiddu rejects his former girlfriend’s  pleas to take her back. Add a drinking song, and Sicilian codes of honour, and the result is a powerful show which should appeal to all ages.  

Some 60 voices of chorus and soloists, Maleny Singers plus The Inspiration Project choir, will bring this wonderful work to local audiences. Maleny Performing Arts 25-piece orchestra will back the singers – all to be conducted by the exuberant Kim Kirkman. Singers’ Wendy Gleeson along with Kim, have rehearsed the choruses, with dramatic direction by Margaret Taylor, who will also sing Mama Lucia (Turiddu’s mother).

Tickets are $ 35, $30 and $ 15 to be purchased from trybooking.com, Maleny Information Centre or at the door. All four performances are matinees at 3pm.