Cavalleria Rusticana for Chamber Orchestra, Parts

Premiered on May 17, 1890, at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni marked a turning point in opera history. Based on a short story and play by Giovanni Verga, the opera inaugurated the verismo (realism) movement in Italian opera, portraying raw emotion and everyday life in a Sicilian village. The libretto follows the tragic love triangle between Turiddu, Santuzza, and Lola. Mascagni’s lush orchestration and sweeping melodies—especially the famed “Intermezzo”—elevated this one-act work to lasting fame. Its intensity, brevity, and vivid storytelling reshaped operatic expectations.

Cavalleria for Chamber Orchestra (18-28 players)

Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana requires a full Romantic orchestra: strings, woodwinds, brass (including 3 trombones), harps, organ, timpani, and percussion. The score calls for around 50–60 players, especially for the rich textures in the Easter procession and the Intermezzo. However, chamber orchestrations have proven successful in smaller venues. Given the opera’s compact form (one act, under 90 minutes), and the small number of solo roles, it lends itself well to touring productions and minimalist stagings without sacrificing dramatic impact. Cavalleria for Chamber Orchestra requires:

• Flute, optional piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bassoon
• (French) Horn, trumpet
• A keyboard for harps, organ and chimes
• 1 or 2 percussionists with timpani, bass & snare drum, cymbals, tam-tam
• String orchestra (10-18 players):
• 3-6 first violins
• 3-6 second violins
• 2-3 violas
• 1-2 cellos
• 1 bass